Various Styles of Buddha Statues

Some Buddha statues are carved into hillsides or on mountain tops.

Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal in 580 B.C. After witnessing the world's suffering, he traveled and inspired others to seek enlightenment and detachment from worldly aspirations. Since that time, millions of people in India, China, Japan, Thailand and numerous other countries have chosen to follow the Buddha. Statues that venerate the Buddha can be found in religious sanctuaries, temples, the Asian countryside and globally in shops and stores. You can travel to exotic sites to see the famous statues or simply select a smaller version for your home altar.

Meditative, Sitting Buddha

Buddha encouraged meditation to find inner peace.

The sitting, meditative Buddha is a prominent statue style. Many of these feature Buddha sitting on a lotus flower, considered a lotus throne. In Kamakura, Japan, a 40-foot-high bronze statue of the Buddha sits outdoors in the Kotoku-in -- a Buddhist temple of the Jodo shu sect. In Germany, a Buddha statue made entirely of gemstone-quality jade can be found at Vien Giac temple. Different interpretations exist regarding the various sitting statues and what they symbolize. Some historical suggestions include peacefulness, harmony and happiness, which many followers believe are what Buddha intends for humanity.

Standing Buddha

Standing Buddha evokes a powerful sense of rising above the world's sorrows.

On of the largest expressions of standing Buddha is a statue situated at the center of a manmade lake in the city of Hyderabad, India. The statue is 56 feet tall, weighs 320 tons and was constructed from a single piece of stone. Even larger is a relatively new statue built in the Po Kaung Hills of Myanmar. At 433 feet high, this standing Buddha is one of the world's largest.

Resting and Reclining

Reclining Buddha statues encourage the release of earthly limitations.

Variations on the resting or reclining Buddha can also be found. In Bangkok, Thailand, a 150-foot gold-plated reclining Buddha suggests his entrance into Nirvana, the ultimate goal of an enlightened state of freedom, wisdom and disengagement from the world and its sufferings. Other reclining Buddhas can be found in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Laughing Buddha

To laugh with Buddha is to find a happy life.

The jolly, laughing Buddha is typically featured with a huge grin and a rotund belly. Speculation has it that the belly is where the Buddha holds the world's worries. Many followers believe that by rubbing the belly, you will have good luck and harmony. Just seeing the laughing Buddha lightens the hearts of viewers. Some followers teach that your life will "lighten up" when you hold the thought of the laughing Buddha in your mind and imagine yourself also laughing inwardly.

References

• Touropia: 10 Famous Buddha Statues
• Jade Buddha for Universal Peace Home Page
• Tibetan Life: Brief History Of Buddhism

Resources

• Religion Facts: The Laughing Buddha
• Dharma Crafts: Buddha Statues
• Great Wall Adventure: Hangzhou; Feilaifeng (Peak Flown From Afar):
• Japanese Buddhism: Buddhism and Facts
• Buddhist Temples: Buddhism Facts