Golden Buddha Statues
Guarantees* Nirvana!

Symbols for Buddhism
In many of the areas where Buddha statues found literacy rates are low. Buddhist statues have stepped in with a variety of symbols to represent the teachings of Buddha.

Laughing Buddha-
Also known as the "Lucky Money Buddha", "Fat Buddha", "Gambling Buddha" or "Happy Buddha", the Laughing Buddha is usually taken to represent a Chinese monk named Ho Tai. Many believe he is a representation of Buddha that will appear in the future. The Laughing Buddha is believed to bring luck, good fortune and wealth.

Lotus Buddha-
The most popular Buddha, so named due to the fact that the shape of Buddha resembles a Lotus flower. This figure is often placed on top of a pedestal that represents the stalk of the lotus flower. The lotus has significance in Buddhism do to the fact that Buddha was raised to Nirvana on one. The Lotus flower has beautiful blossoms, even though it grows out of muck. This is considered symbolic of Buddha's rise to nirvana from earth. (Hey! We live in muck then!). The lotus position is considered to represent perfect balance of thought and tranquility. In this statue, the hand positions, called mudra, have the fingers of the right hand resting lightly on the fingers of the left as they lay in the lap of Buddha. The legs are crossed in what is called the Lotus Position. The left foot is placed on the right thigh and the right foot is placed on the left thigh. Lotus statues should convey tranquility and relaxation.

Reclining Buddha-
The reclining Buddha representing the Buddha's death and passage to Nirvana symbolizes complete peace and detachment from the world.

Peace and Protection Buddhas-
Other popular positions include statues with the right hand raised in abhayamudra - the gesture of dispelling fear. These statues symbolize protection and peace in one's home or garden. Statues Calling the Earth to Witness are represented by Buddha's right hand touching the ground in a gesture that symbolizes unshakable faith and resolution.

Baby Buddha -
Representing the birth and arrival of the teachings of Buddha.

8-armed Buddhas (Avalokitesvara's )
Some Buddha statues are actually based on Bodhisattvas, people could have passed to Nirvana, but instead chose to remain in this world out of compassion for other human beings. The Avalokitesvara's main purpose is to listen to the cries for help from those in trouble and provide them with aid. He is the protector from danger and his sacrifice symbolizes infinite compassion, the sharing of mankind's misery and a willingness to help those in distress. The eight arms symbolize his reaching out with compassion to save the world. The famous Chinese view of Avalokitesvara is a women known as Kuan Yin (or Kwan Yin).

Buddha Statues represent the "enlightened one", the idol of the Buddhist religion. They are a symbol of Buddhism's founder, Siddhartha Gautama, who preached that to attain Nirvana, a state without suffering, one must eliminate all craving from their life. Pursuing the eightfold path can only do this.

Mental discipline as having the control over the negative emotions of fear and greed. However, Buddha statues also serve an important role in conveying teachings, particularly in traditional societies with low literacy rates.

While Buddha Statues come in a wide variety of poses, the most common is the Buddha in Lotus Position. This is a position of meditation that symbolizes perfect balance of thought and tranquility. In this statue, the hand positions, called mudra, have the fingers of the right hand resting lightly on the fingers of the left as they lay in the lap of Buddha. The legs are crossed in what is called the Lotus Position. The left foot is placed on the right thigh and the right foot is placed on the left thigh. Many Buddha statues sit on a pedestal in the form of a lotus blossom. The lotus represents the Buddha Mind because, though growing in mire, it puts forth beautiful, immaculate flowers.

Reclining Buddha-
The reclining Buddha representing the Buddha's death and passage to Nirvana symbolizes complete peace and detachment from the world.

Bodhisattvas-
Some Buddha statues are actually based on Bodhisattvas, people could have passed to Nirvana, but instead chose to remain in this world out of compassion for other human beings. The Avalokitesvara's main purpose is to listen to the cries for help from those in trouble and provide them with aid. He is the protector from danger and his sacrifice symbolizes infinite compassion, the sharing of mankind's misery and a willingness to help those in distress. The eight arms symbolize his reaching out with compassion to save the world. The famous Chinese view of Avalokitesvara is a women known as Kuan Yin (or Kwan Yin). We have a large selection of Kuan Yin Statues in our Asian Gallery.
Laughing Buddha

A Chinese monk named Ho Tai is widely referred to by non-Buddhists as the "laughing Buddha" or "happy Buddha." Many believe that he is an incarnation of a Buddha who will appear in the future and might properly be called a bodhisattva.