Buddha Statues for the Home and Garden

There are many choices when it comes to Buddha statues for the home and garden.

Buddha Slideshow

If you are a Buddhist, then you probably already have an altar complete with a Buddha statue. However, you don’t need to be a Buddhist in order to incorporate this statue into your interior or exterior décor. Buddha statues are often used as a feng shui design element and can assist the chi to move throughout your home and garden.

There are a wide variety of Buddha statues. You’ll want to consider the meaning and symbolism of the statue in relationship to the area you're placing it. Fortunately, many manufacturers are now finishing statues to withstand the elements of nature so they can be used either inside or outside the home.

The mediating Buddha is a style of statue most commonly found in Buddhist altars. The altar serves as a place of contemplation accompanied by an offering of burning incense. The inclusion of a Buddha statue symbolizes paying respect to Buddha and his teachings. It also signifies the owner’s aspiration to achieve enlightenment.

These statues typically render Buddha in a sitting position with both hands in a meditative position called cosmic mudra. The hands overlap each other with the left hand on top of the right one with thumb tips touching to form an oval symbolizing the turning of one’s attention inward. Often, a halo is placed around Buddha’s head representing the spiritual energy he manifested into the world.

The laughing Buddha is probably the most widely recognizable depiction of Buddha in western culture. It’s also known as the good luck, prosperity or abundance Buddha. It reveals Buddha in his later years with a very large belly and a laughing facial expression.

He'll either be in a sitting position or standing with his hands over his head supporting a real or imaginary Ru-Yi pot (vessel or bowl of plenty). The statue is often affectionately dubbed, Happy. It’s tradition to rub his belly to ensure even greater luck is bestowed upon you.

The Blessing is a pose that depicts Buddha bestowing fearlessness with his upper hand gesture and compassion (lower hand) upon the occupants of the house.

Known as Dyani or Dharma Chakra Buddha, the Teaching statue is in either a sitting or a standing position. The most popular pose is seated since it’s the position Buddha assumed when teaching. This statue symbolizes Buddha’s most important moment in life when he first shared the knowledge he’d gained after his enlightenment in the deer park, Sarnath, located in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Both hands are in front of his chest with index fingers and thumbs touching to form a circle. The circles represent his teaching of the Wheel of Dharma (the union of wisdom and method).

The other three fingers of both hands always remain extended and each has a specific meaning.

Right hand:

• The middle finger is the hearers (listeners) of his teachings
• The ring finger is the solitary realizers
• The little finger is the great vehicle (Mahayana)

Left hand fingers represent the three jewels of Buddhism:

• Buddha (Awakened or enlightened one)
• Dharma (One’s righteous duty and the path it provides.)
• Sangha (Community and friends – the role each plays in the individual’s spiritual life.)

The hand placement is in front of the heart because the teachings came from Buddha’s heart.

You need to pay close attention if you decide on this style of Buddha because some statues will depict the thumb touching the ring finger instead of the forefinger. This changes the meaning to one of good fortune.

Hotei means cotton-sack and symbolizes Buddha as a traveling monk.

The Safe Travels Buddha is an old-fashioned rendition. He either carries a stick with a bundle tied to the end of it or he has a sack thrown over one shoulder. Both variations include him holding a wealth ball in his other hand.

The Long Life Buddha is seated and has a bag of blessings by his side or holds the bag in his lap. In one hand, he cradles a wealth ball raised in front of him and a Ru-Yi pot in his other hand.

The Spiritual Journey Buddha has quite a few symbols to study. Typically, he carries a gourd of enlightenment suspended from a stick while holding a fan in his other hand. He wears a necklace made of prayer beads.

The Happy Home Buddha is seated and holds a parasol over his shoulder, protruding behind his back.

Combinations of symbols create a seated Love Buddha holding a wealth ball in one hand with a bag slung over his shoulder.

Also known as, Calling Earth to Witness, the Earth Buddha sits on the ground with his right hand extended so his fingers point to the earth beneath him. This statue honors the time when Buddha was repeatedly tempted by the demon, Mara, but resisted and reached enlightenment.

Buddha awaits his transition from this life to death, which he viewed as a mere journey of transition into a different state of being.

You need to select an auspicious area in your home or garden to place your Buddha statue. You should refer to feng shui principles to make the appropriate choice.

Buddha statues for the home and garden are available in all kinds of materials ranging from resin to metal and even concrete or stone. You must first decide if you want to place one in your home or garden and then select the appropriate type of material. The use of the area will help in determining which type of Buddha statue is best.

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