Ask a Tim
Ask a Tim
Finally an answer to all your questions about everything. Not only an answer, but an answer from a Tim! E-mail all questions to AskingTim@Gmail.com or by clicking on the link on the left hand menu bar titled "Get your questions answered" and leaving a comment! I will reply (if I can) as soon as possible!
Monday, October 03, 2005
Kurt Cobain, though in Nirvana, was not one!
Dear Tim,
Why are there two types of Buddhas? There's the fat, jolly guy at the all you can eat Chinese buffet place, then there's the other possibly Thai/Indian Buddha (?) that is skinny, solemn looking, with the head dress. What's the deal?
This is a very good question. First off, a little background on Buddha. There are many different sects of Buddhism, so the answers for this could be varied. Most people assume that Siddhartha Gautama was the Buddha. He has been popularized by both the book "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse, and by the movie, Little Buddha, with Keanu Reeves (personally, I think this was his best role, as he never actually spoke in the movie, that I remember anyway).
But the story of the spoiled rich prince who gave up a life of opulence for a life of enlightenment is actually the story of the 28th Buddha. There were 27 Buddhas before him, and there is supposed to be one Buddha after him, foretold by Siddhartha to be named "Maithrieya".
A Buddha is one who rediscovers the Dharma, or truth, by enlightenment, which comes to be after skillful or good karma is perfectly maintained and all negative unskillful actions are abandoned. Its all a lot more complicated than this, but for our purposes, it will do just fine.
So as to your statue question, there are actually four common forms that a Buddha statue will take:
taken in Golden Gate Park Japanese Tea Garden
The Reclining Buddha
The large fellow is in Laos
The Standing Buddha
located in Polonnarruwa, the city of ruins
And of course your Happy Buddha, formally called Hotei
located in Suzhou, China
Now, that you have your Buddha's for all occasions, I will explain why. The skinny Buddha's are going to be one of your first 28 Buddha's, most often you will see Siddhartha, as he is the Brad Pitt of Buddha's.
But the latter, fatter, happy Buddha is believed to be a medieval Chinese Monk, named Hotei, who was regarded as an incarnation of the bodhisattva soon to be Maithrieya. But this claim was only allegorical and therefore it is not an official Buddha statue. Though he had the potential, he just didn't apply himself. Instead, he has become a Taoist (pronounced with "d" instead of "t") deity of contentment and abundance. He also persists in Japanese folklore as one of the seven happy gods.
He is also called "Bu-dai" or "Mi Le Fo" and dubbed the "Loving", or "Friendly One".
Buddhism, like all major religions, is very complicated and has many intricate details specific to the region where it is practiced. I have tried to answer in general terms where possible, or in relation to "traditional" Buddhist doctrine. As one who has not spent much time at all learning about Buddhism, my answers to this may be inaccurate. Feel free to correct me as needed.
***Did you Know*** Though it is not a form of official Buddhist doctrine, it is popular folklore that rubbing Hotei's belly will bring forth fortune, prosperity and good luck. Which is probably where the practice of rubbing bald men's noggins for luck, came from.
3 Comments:
This can include, but is not limited to, the elimination of desire, a thorough understanding of the impermanence of life, and dettachment from all things that could cause suffering.
That's the upside! The downside is that garlic, chili-cheese fries and funnel cakes are the first thing to go.
