Characteristics Of Buddha Statue

The characteristics of Sang Buddha statue. Sang Buddha statue is described in the position of sitting with crossed-legs, in the form of human, and never has more than two hands.

Sang Buddha statue is always represented as having two arms. The arms are always at the front of his body with some certain positions called mudra. The expression of his face is calm and his curly hair is tied. On his forehead, there is a big point called urna and his ears are rather big and loosely hung down.

Sang Buddha statue is always in the same sitting position. The only difference is the hand position or mudra. In four different directions, the positions of Buddha’s hand are different.

Dhyani Buddha Amoghasiddhi statue. The hand position is Abhayamudra (not afraid of any danger). This statue is placed as the guardian of the north direction.

Dhyani Buddha Aksobya statue. His hand position is Bumisparsamudra (calling the Earth to be the witness). Dhyani Buddha Aksobya is placed as the guardian of the east direction.

Dhyani Buddha Amitabha statue. His hand position is Dhyanamudra (meditate or pray). Dhyani Buddha Amitabha is placed as tha guardian of the west direction.

Dhyani Buddha Ratnasambhawa. His hand position is Varamudra (giving gift or blessing). Dhyani Buddha Ratnasambhawa is placed as the guardian of the south direction.

Dhyani Buddha statue with Dharmacakramudra hand position. His hand position is rotating the Roda-Dharma (Wheel of Duty). This hand position symbolizes or describes the fi rst duty assigned by Sang Buddha.

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Korean Buddhist Protest

Korea’s largest Buddhist denomination has staged a “1080 bow” protest against an alleged religious bias by the government.

On Jan. 10, some 230 Buddhist monks and lay staff from the Jogye Order bowed 1080 times in a three hour protest at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul.

“The government, which must be fair to everyone, is dominated by specific groups or powers based on a specific religion and educational background, and it carries out its purpose by pushing ahead with its power,” the group said in a statement issued prior to the protest.

The group criticized the ruling Grand National Party for rushing the 2011 budget through parliament.

The budget included cuts to social welfare while increasing allocations for the government’s controversial Four Rivers Project.

The budget also reduced the allocation for a temple stay program by 7 billion won ($US 6.2 million) causing anger in Buddhist circles.

“The passing of the budget with the power of the majority shocked us as a regression of democracy,” the group said.

Kim Young-il, assistant deputy director of the Jogye Order Department of Planning and Coordination told ucanews.com that the 1080 bows reflected repentance for past faults.

“In Buddhism, ‘108 bows’ is an ordinary way of praying and training,” Kim explained.

“1,080 bows has a wider meaning signifying repentance for 10 Buddhist misdeeds with 108-bows for each misdeed.

“It also signifies a protest against the government which is continually discriminating against Buddhism,” he added.

The order is planning worship ceremonies at 3,000 temples on Jan. 11 to denounce the government’s actions.

Local Buddhist groups have continued to protest against the government’s alleged bias against Buddhism and in favor of Protestantism since President Lee Myung-bak, a Protestant, assumed office in 2008.

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Shaolin Temple Business Conglomerate

China's famed Shaolin Temple has set up over 40 companies overseas as it hopes to spread Buddhist-inspired martial arts around the globe, state press reported.

But the announcement of a vast business plan to send the temple's famed warrior monks abroad has been met with criticism over the commercialisation of Buddhism, the Global Times said on Monday.

"We currently operate over 40 companies in cities across the world, such as Berlin and London," the paper quoted Shi Yongxin, the temple's abbot, as saying at a Beijing culture forum.

"The Shaolin Temple is also participating in the operation of some other companies related to the same industry," he said, adding that the companies have bought land and property overseas.

Shi, the first Chinese monk to earn a master's degree in business administration, denied the businesses were profit-motivated, insisting that the temple was fulfilling an overseas infatuation with "Shaolin culture", it said.

The temple, which was established in 495 AD, is known as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese kung fu.

Shaolin warrior monks have held legendary status for centuries throughout Asia, while over the last 50 years films and television have spread their reputation worldwide.

Besides teaching martial arts around the world, the Shaolin centres also include Zen meditation workshops and Chinese language training, Shi said.

The temple has nearly 130 martial arts clubs in the United States alone, while Shaolin monks are already capable of teaching in English, German and Spanish, he said.

Shi, known as the "CEO of Shaolin" since taking over the temple a decade ago, has developed commercial ventures such as kung fu shows, film production and online merchandise sales.

Last year he denied the temple planned to participate in an initial public offering with a Hong Kong travel company, while a Beijing court turned down an application to put a Shaolin trademark on consumer goods like instant noodles.

Shi's business efforts have been widely criticised as a naked attempt to commercialise Buddhism, the report said.

"To many people, a temple is a reclusive place outside the bustles of the material world," but "when a monk like Shi travels frequently by plane to promote his businesses, secular society cannot keep up," the paper said in an editorial.

"While spreading ideas has been the traditional theme of most religions, Shaolin's ventures abroad also help China spread its traditional culture and thinking, and gain more understanding through a civil channel."

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Tennis Players Offer Food To Monks

Four international tennis players started their 2011 season by visiting Thailand recently. World No.1 Caroline Wozniaki of Denmark and world no.3 Kim Clijsters of Belgium were in the resort city of Hua Hin in Thailand for the World Tennis Invitation Exhibition match. In the match, held on new year, Kim Clijsters defeated Caroline Wozniaki. Top men's doubles of Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan of the US were also in Hua Hin to conduct a tennis clinic for talented Thai youngsters.

While in Hua Hin, Caroline and Kim took the opportunity to offer food to Buddhist monks and in return received blessings from the monks.

Video - Kim Clijsters being massaged by elephant in Thailand during her recent visit to the country

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Video - Buddha Ray

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Buddhist Altar

It is one of the main parts of a lay Buddhists home, the alter table. Some may call it the Gohonzon table according to what school of Buddhism you practice but it is the part that a lot of lay Buddhist’s forget about or ignore but it is one of the most important parts. Why set up a Buddha alter table in your home? Well because if you are Buddhist you should be making offerings to the Buddha as well as reaffirming your vows during certain times of the year. And above all having an alter in your home is respectable to the Buddha. According to what schools you practice with some teachings also teach that you are to have an image of the Buddha in your home for protection. And the only respectable place for an image statue of the Buddha is on a dedicated table/stand.

Some believe that having the Buddha in the home and making offerings of incense, flowers, fruit and water daily that their lives will be blessed by the Buddha and the spirits of the Bodhisattvas. Some feel that their daily offerings are the least they could do to repay the Buddha for giving his teachings to the world. Still some cannot even start their day without first doing prostrations before their home based Buddha alter. It’s a way of making your home as temple like as possible which can be a nice addition to your Buddhist lifestyle practice.

Before you decide to set up the alter in your home you first have to know what each item on the alter stands for and how to set up a proper table. Here is what you will need on the alter and how to set it up:
Supplies

Image of the Buddha, Amitabha, Shakyamuni etc. according to your practice. The image can be a statue or picture or type of image and small stand for the Buddha image.

Small bowl of clean water.

Incense holder and incense.

Live flowers and or fresh fruit. If using fresh fruit on the table please have also a bowl for the fruit, never place fruit on the table itself.

Two candles in candle holders always make sure they are in holders.
Set up

The image of the Buddha should always be the focus point of your alter so always make sure image of the Buddha is set on a lifted base/stand at the back of your table so that it sits up above everything else on the table.
Place a clean bowl of water in front of the Buddha image, change this water at least a few times a week to keep it clean.
Place fresh flowers (never fake) either in a vase and set to the sides of the Buddha slightly forward of the image or place fresh cut flowers at the base of the Buddha lying on the table. If you use fruit on the table also put into a bowl and place at the foot of the Buddha.
Place incense in front of the bowl of water towards the front of the table.
Place two candles on candle holders to the sides and at the front of the alter.
Meaning of items

Image of Buddha- Symbolizes wisdom and our own Buddha nature.

Bowl of water- Reminds us how we should keep our mind and thoughts, still and pure.

Flowers/Fruit- Offerings of respect to the Buddha and bodhisattvas’.

Incense- Symbolizes the scent of the Dharma, the scent goes from the Buddha place into the world.

Candles- Symbolizes burning away the ignorance of the world.

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Happy New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to all readers of this blog, wherever you are HAPPY NEW YEAR. May you have a good year ahead of you.

This blog has not been updated as regularly as it used to be but rest assured it is still very much alive.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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