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Author
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Topic: The Happy Buddha!
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rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 26, 2011 11:14 PM
  
Laughing Buddha ( Happy Buddha)Known as Hotei (Japan) and Pu-Tai (China), these figures embody the ideals of the good life: health, happiness, prosperity and longevity.
They represent the later Buddhist notions that the good life was indeed attainable in this world. It consisted of self-mastery, a happy demeanor, purposeful endeavor, a deep commitment to the welfare of others and enlightened awareness. Scholars believe that the Laughing Buddha is in fact modeled on an historical figure, a fat wandering Zen monk named Pu-tai.
All sources describe him as obese, with wrinkled forehead, and a white protruding belly which he left uncovered. There was another feature of his bodily appearance that captured attention. Wherever he went, he wore a pu-tai (Japanese Hotei) or cloth-bag. Thus he came to be known as Pu-tai Hoshang or hemp-bag monk.
Legend has it that in this bag he carried candy for the children. Over the centuries within China, Buddhist notions of happiness based on self-mastery and enlightened insight were fused with popular Chinese life-ideals of happiness through material prosperity, thus today the hemp sack may be interpreted as filled with gold, filled with happiness, health, and other aspects of abundance. IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 26, 2011 11:15 PM
Happy Hotei's come in many forms.
Laughing Buddha of Love - sitting in love and compassion
Laughing Buddha of Prosperity - holding a Ru-Yi Pot or Bowl of Plenty up to the universe for receiving abundance Laughing Buddha of Safe Travel - on a journey with a hemp sack full of protection Laughing Buddha of Happy Home - sitting on a large gold nugget representing solid foundation, with a smaller nugget in his hand to give to others Spiritual Journey Buddha - dressed for the journey in fine robes, with a fan for understanding and a sack to collect insights Laughning Buddha of Long Life - sitting with his fan hat and enjoying the good life! IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 26, 2011 11:15 PM
Hotei
Travels the country spreading joy and happiness wherever he goes.
His big belly is a symbol of happiness, good luck and generosity. Hotei is the deity of happiness, laughter, abundance and the wisdom of contentment. The image of the Hotei Buddha is almost always seen carrying a cloth or linen sack. It is usually filled with many precious items, including candy for children, food, or the woes of the world. His prayer mala is carved with a symbol meaning "good fortune". His large elongated earlobes are a sign of wisdom. The bag represents fulfillment of wishes or can also be the blessings of Buddha. Happiness is one of the Laughing Buddha's greatest gifts.
Many believe that rubbing the Laughing Buddha's belly brings joy, luck and prosperity. As a result, Feng Shui has adopted the Laughing Buddha as a prime symbol of wealth & prosperity.
IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 26, 2011 11:21 PM
He is supposedly the only member of the seven based on an actual person. Back when Buddhist missionary monks were delivering the message & way of Gautama Buddha onto the islands of Japan, they devised a method to more efficiently reach the local Shinto inhabitants. By manifesting Buddhist principles, with Shinto Kami, the monks were successful. Kami are seen as Shinto gods and were worshiped as such. The Buddhist monastics were able to better communicate their ideology to Japanese natives by using the Kami's as examples in common Buddhist practice. Thus, Buddhism became very widely accepted in Japan and from one of these manifestations, came Hotei.
http://www.mercurytreasures.com/buddha.htm IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 26, 2011 11:24 PM
The laughing Buddha statue is a symbol of happiness and contentment. The Laughing Buddha is seen in different postures, each having a different significance.
•Buddha with a money bag and a gold ingot represents wealth and good fortune.
•The Standing Happy Buddha brings riches and happiness.
•Buddha sitting on a large gold nugget with a smaller nugget in his hand ready for giving to others. This position of the Laughing Buddha is symbolic of good luck.
•Buddha sitting with his fan hat on his head represents enjoyment and good fortune.
•Buddha holding a gold ingot with his hands upright signifies abundant riches and good luck.
•Buddha with a fan in one hand and wu lou (bottle gourd) in the other hand brings blessings and good health. The fan wards off misfortune while the wu lou protects from illness.
•Buddha carrying a bag of gold on his shoulder symbolizes prosperity.
•Buddha carrying a bag of blessings on his right shoulder and a fan in his left hand protects you and keeps you safe during long journeys.
•Buddha with a travel stick in his hand protects you from harm during journeys.
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Emeraldopal
Knowflake Posts: 1026
From: U
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted August 27, 2011 12:23 AM
the Buddha I have
is the one, in the second
row, all the way to the
right!------------------
All my love, with all my Heart
lotusheartone IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted August 28, 2011 09:29 PM
The first Buddha that my mother recieved as a gift was the second in the first row with hands held up high...It was the one I used for my wishes.
It had a ring made of copper and was of black rosewood with teeth made of white bone.
The colour contrast made me feel that I could make him laugh all the more.
IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted September 08, 2011 01:36 PM
 ------------------
I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order, as they should be. IP: Logged |
Emeraldopal
Knowflake Posts: 1026
From: U
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted September 08, 2011 04:22 PM
rajji,I didn't see your post til now.. You are a very dear Soul. ... ------------------
All my love, with all my Heart
lotusheartone IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted September 09, 2011 11:19 AM
The one I see a lot of is the first one on the last row.IP: Logged |
abcd efg
Knowflake Posts: 1118
From: India
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted September 09, 2011 02:34 PM
My friend gave me a buddha as a present. Its the first one in the last row - extreme right.IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted September 09, 2011 09:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Emeraldopal:
rajji,I didn't see your post til now.. You are a very dear Soul. ...
Lotus! [[{{{{{hugs}}}}]] IP: Logged |
rajji
Knowflake Posts: 1274
From:
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted September 09, 2011 09:32 PM
Randall and abcd both of you mean the same one.
I seem to like the one with an umbrella!
I love umbrellas. lol!IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted December 13, 2011 10:22 AM
*bump*------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted December 14, 2011 10:24 AM
 ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
hippichick
Moderator Posts: 938
From:
Registered: May 2009
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posted December 15, 2011 11:08 AM
I was gifted a Buddha, the second one on the top.I was told it was the Buddha of compassion, but he is laughing  My elderly grandpa, just in from Indiana, came over last night and asked me about my Buddha...I love my Buddha, he is fun to look at and always brings a smile to my face! IP: Logged |
Venus
Moderator Posts: 774
From:
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted December 16, 2011 02:05 AM
wow rajj thanks for the lovly posts. didnt know that different figures have different meanings!IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted December 23, 2011 12:37 PM
Haha!IP: Logged |
Venus
Moderator Posts: 774
From:
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted December 28, 2011 04:04 AM
saw The Standing Happy Buddha in vibrant green, think it would make a perfect gift!!IP: Logged |
Venus
Moderator Posts: 774
From:
Registered: Mar 2011
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posted December 28, 2011 04:04 AM
saw The Standing Happy Buddha in vibrant green, think it would make a perfect gift!!IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 14290
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted December 29, 2011 01:12 PM
Yep, that's a good one.IP: Logged |
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