Where to place your laughing Buddha statue in your room?
Laughing Buddha often mistook as a Shakyamuni Buddha, mainly by westerns, is, in fact, a bodhisattva. His Chinese name is Budai or Putai which means "cloth Sack" and comes from the bag that carries all the time. He is almost portrayed as smiling or laughing, hence the name Laughing Buddha was given to him. Sometimes, he is also referred to as Fat Buddha because of his fat belly. Apart from his fat belly, he is depicted as a bald man wearing a robe or sometimes carrying prayer beads. He is often portrayed as entertaining and can be seen with children, especially five. As history suggests that Budai was a Chan monk who lived in China during the Later Liang period, i.e. 10th century. He was considered a man of good and loving character.
He is also believed to bring good luck, contentment, and abundance in an individual's life. That's why people love to decorate their space with the Buddha statues of Budai. Even the people have made huge Buddha statues which portrayed Bodai, in the parks and the Buddhist temple.
Laughing Buddha Statue
Generally, Bodai, when presented in Statue, is portrayed in five different ways -
• Laughing Buddha Playing with children,
• Laughing Buddha depicted with a bowl
• Laughing Buddha depicted with a fan in his right hand
• Laughing Buddha depicted with a sack or bag
• Laughing Buddha depicted with beads or ball.
The above-mentioned statue of Laughing Buddha has symbolical representations. Like, the statue I, playing with children represents good fortunes and also brings good luck and positive energy. In the second statue, monk's life which has been depicted by the bowl and is believed to be associated with renunciation of material possessions and attaining enlightenment. The third statue symbolizes happiness and joy. It is also believed that the fan which Buddha holds if waved then there will be banishment of troubles. The fourth statue symbolizes Buddha as a traveler and the last one represents meditation practice. The sack or bag in the statue means that the Buddha will collect all people's sadness, woes. The beads in the last statue portray or symbolize "Pearls of Wisdom"
Huge Laughing Buddha Statue
Huge Laughing Buddha statue was constructed only in the early 21st century. Some of them are Bodai statue at Vinh Trang Temple, Vietnam constructed at 2012 CE; Bodai statue at Jochi-ji, Yamanouchi, Kamajura, Japan constructed at 2008 CE; Budai Statue at Wat Don Phra Chao, Yasothon Province, Isan, Thailand constructed at 2006 CE; Budai Statue at Wat Plai Leam Buddhist Temple, Koh Samui, Thailand constructed at the early 2000s; Bodai Statue at Haedong Yonggung Temple, Busan, South Korea, etc.
Placement of Buddha statue
When we place a Buddha Statue we should consider few points so that the Buddha statues will be placed in right order. Some of the points are as follows:
- When the statue is placed in the living room, we should put in the east section as according to Feng Shui Bagua Formula or in such a place where all members could see the statue even they all seat in the room.
- It is believed that when the statue is placed in the Sheng Chi direction as according to Feng Shui Kua Formula then it brings wealth, well-being, and victory. It also helps in accomplishing the objectives.
- If the statue is put in the south east direction then it will help to increase the income of the family.
- If the statue is installed in office then the positive outcome will be clarity of mind, tension reduction and elimination of the negative effects.
- If the statue is placed on the desk then it will enhance luck of the individuals.
