Representations of Buddah

No representations of the Buddha were made for about four or five centuries. It is sometimes said that prior to this time it was forbidden to make statues or pictures of the Buddha, but this is unlikely and there is no evidence of such a prohibition.

A more likely explanation is that until then symbols of the Buddha (stupas, footprints, an empty throne etc.) and written descriptions of him were deemed sufficient.

Whatever the reasons, the first Buddha statues were produced in about the 1st or 2nd century AD in Bactria (Afghanistan and northern Pakistan) perhaps as a result of Greek influence, and in Mathura.

There is no standard way of representing the Buddha which may differ according to the artistic inspiration, the tastes or the iconographical canons of the different cultures in which they are produced.

Some features however are common to most statues. The Buddha is depicted in one of several postures- standing, sitting in meditation or lying down. Statues sitting in the so-called Western fashion are usually not of the Buddha but of Maitreya.

Statues lying down are not of the Buddha sleeping, as is commonly supposed, but of him dying.

The hands of the Buddha statues are shown in different gestures (mudra), each indicative of important things the Buddha did and which we should do also.

The hands nestled in the lap suggest meditation, held in front of the chest suggest teaching the Dhamma, one hand held up with the palm facing outwards suggests the giving of confidence or fearlessness.



Appearance of Buddha

The ear lobes of the Buddha statues are nearly always shown elongated, this is indicative of renunciation in that while a layman, the Buddha wore large ear plugs which he stopped wearing when he became a monk, but which left his ear lobes stretched.

It is often said that Buddhists worship statues, in the sense that they believe that Buddha statues actually are the Buddha or that they have some inherent power.

But such ideas are quite incorrect. Buddhists do not worship Buddha statues any more than Christians worship the cross or Muslims the Kabba, which they face when they pray.

Like the cross etc. the Buddha statue is seen as a symbol that can be seen as helpful in creating devotion, uplifting the mind and focusing attention.

The Buddha Statue signifies the "Enlightened One," the basic idol of Buddhism.

Buddhism conveys the philosophy of self-perfection - its essentials are contained in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Buddhism adheres to various scriptures. Buddhists hold the Pali Canon to be the oldest and most authoritative "scripture."

The Four Noble Truths affirm that:
  • Life is full of suffering (dukkha)
  • Suffering is caused by desire (samudaya)
  • Suffering will cease only when desire ceases (nirodha)
  • This can be achieved by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Generally, the Path consists of right views, right aspiration, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. Other Buddhist philosophies include the belief that nothing in life is permanent (anicca), that individual selves do not truly exist (anatta), that all is determined by an impersonal law of moral causation (karma), that reincarnation is an endless cycle of continuous suffering, and that the goal of life is to break out of this cycle by finally extinguishing the flame of life and entering a permanent state of pure nonexistence (nirvana).