There are many images available of the
popular Laughing Buddha, who is known as Budai in Chinese and Hotei in Japanese.
He is shown holding Chinese coins, a
fan and linen sack or surrounded by children.
He can be sitting on an elephant, on a mountain of coins or with a
dragon.
‘Buddha’ is identified as ‘one who is
awake’ or ‘one who has achieved enlightenment.’
He has been associated with an unconventional
Chinese Zen monk who lived over a thousand years ago and is now a dominant
figure in Buddhist culture. Some
identify him as an incarnation of the Maitreya Bodhisattva (Future Buddha.)
He is an open and jolly character with
a large expansive belly and infectious smile which is why he has become commonly
known as the "Laughing Buddha."
It is difficult to look at an image of the Laughing Buddha without
smiling or laughing with him.
Rubbing the tummy of the ‘Laughing
Buddha’ is said to invite wealth and good luck to you; rubbing his long ears is
said to bring you wisdom and rubbing his head will make him laugh even more.
The Laughing Buddha is a representation
of contentment, generosity, wisdom and open heartedness. He is the patron saint of restaurant owners,
bartenders and clairvoyants. When a person drinks or eats too much the Laughing
Buddha's influence is said to have been at work.
The Laughing Buddha sits in many
temples and restaurants, and is imaged as jewellery. His image has come to represent a Buddha of abundance
or wealth. He is nearly always seen
carrying a linen sack which is forever full.
It is full of many valuable items, such as rice, (an image of wealth in
Chinese culture); sweets for children; food; or all the grief of the world
locked away.
He is the Buddha of the weak, the poor
and of children.
Laughing Buddha statues are represented
as a fat, smiling or laughing bald man in monk’s robes. He has an exposed pot-bellied stomach which
symbolises happiness, good luck, and good fortune. Some statues also have small
children at his feet. Laughing Buddha statues often show an alms bowl which
represents his Buddhist nature.
In other interpretations the Laughing
Buddha may be sitting on a cart drawn by children, or he may be holding a fan
which when waved is said to fulfill all your wishes and desires.
All of these features represent the Laughing
Buddha as a roving monk who travels the world removing sadness from all people
and inviting wealth and happiness in its place.
Displaying images of the Laughing
Buddha in your home in elements suitable for its location (ceramic, crystal or
pottery in the Southwest, Northeast, Centre, West or Northwest; wood in the
East, Southeast or South and Metal in the West, Northwest or North) is always
auspicious.
And don’t forget to rub his tummy.
To the fulfillment of your dreams
LynC
We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC
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