Buddha Groove: About Buddha | Buddha Teachings | Buddha Inspirations | Buddhism

Zen Story: Perfection

There once lived a priest whose duty it was to tend the garden of a Zen temple.  The priest loved trees, bushes and flowers and took great pride in his work. A low wall separated the temple from another, smaller shrine next door, where an aged Zen master lived.

One day, the priest was told that  important guests were expected. Immediately, he set about tending the garden. He removed weeds, pruned tree branches and shrubs. He even combed the moss ! Since it was autumn, the ground was untidy with dry leaves which the priest painstakingly raked and arranged into neat mounds.

All this while, the old monk was watching him from across the wall. The priest finished with his labor of love. A look of satisfaction spread across his face. “Doesn’t it look beautiful now?” he said, turning to the monk.

“Indeed it does,” replied the monk, “but something’s not quite right. Here, give me a hand over this wall and I’ll fix it for you.”

Puzzled, the priest did as he was asked. The old master made his way slowly to a tree in the center of the garden, gripped its trunk and shook it hard. Leaves scattered down,  orange, russet and brown. “There...that’s better ! Now, can you help me back across the wall ?”

Perfection is....not always what you think it is!

Zen Story: Mind over Matter

An accomplished though conceited young archer once dared a Zen master famed for his prowess in archery, to a test of their skills. The youth’s proficiency was  extraordinary. His first arrow found its target, a  far off bull’s eye, with ease; with his next shot, he split the first arrow into two.

“Think you can match that ?” he asked the old man condescendingly.

Instead of responding, the elderly monk gestured to the young man to follow him higher up the mountain. After some time, they arrived at a deep gorge. An old and decidedly unsteady log spanned the distance to the other side. The master serenely walked to the middle of the log, aimed at a distant tree and in a clean movement, loosed an arrow that flew straight into the tree trunk.

“Your turn now,” said he, stepping back casually onto the cliff edge.

The youth stared into the chasm yawning below and trembled uncontrollably. He could not put a foot onto the log, much less take aim at anything beyond.

The master observed, “You have great control over your bow, but little with the mind that lets loose the arrow!”

Kill the ego to attain true power and skill.

Zen Teachings

Zen teachings are so deceptively easy, that the novice is likely to wonder what the fuss is all about! Indeed the most fascinating aspect of this “wordless tradition” is its extraordinary purity of concept, a deep simplicity that immediately appeals. No traditions or rituals associated with other branches of Buddhism. So what does Zen have to offer us?

What if you had a toolkit for living – a torch to help you see through darkness, a trusty sword to slash through jungles of illusion, fear and negativity, a soothing balm to heal the cuts and wounds of hate and bitterness? That, in essence, is Zen.

Buddhism’s core belief is that all sentient beings are born enlightened, a state of perfection that gradually recedes as one journeys through life, believing that failure, sorrow and pain are our lot. Zen’s answer to this:

Suffering is rooted in your own mind. It does not have to be so.

 All Zen teachings flow from this basic principle.

"Do not dwell in the past,  do not dream of the future, 

concentrate the mind on the present moment" 

-Buddha 

 

What is the significance of different hand positions of Laughing Buddha?

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.

In depicting the reclining Buddha, what is the significance of his right hand position?

The statue of the reclining Buddha shows Buddha’s right hand in different positions. Each position has a different significance. A position where the right hand supports the head in the form of a pillow implies that Buddha is resting. The right hand placed alongside the body, depicts that Buddha has entered Nirvana – which is a state of enlightenment. In another reclining position, Buddha’s right arm is seen folded along his chest. This is when Buddha revealed that he was going to pass away and preached his last sermon to his disciples before departing from this world.

Depicted here: Reclining Buddha from Buddha Groove

What does the reclining Buddha signify?

The statue of the reclining Buddha represents Buddha’s serene and composed posture before leaving this world. The statue of Buddha in a reclining position depicts Buddha in his last hours before his passing. This is that moment when Buddha is enters “Nirvana”, which is a state of enlightenment. According to Buddhist belief, a person who attains this state does not go through the cycle of life, death and rebirth thereafter and is entirely set free from the human confines of destiny and misery. The reclining Buddha signifies tranquility and absolute detachment from the desires of the world, a state obtained on the attainment of Nirvana.

What does the Weeping Buddha signify?

The statue of the weeping Buddha depicts Buddha in a bent over position, covering his face with his hands.
 
There is a story about two warriors associated with the weeping Buddha. The warriors often faced each other during several battles. Both the warriors used masks as part of their costumes as a result of which they couldn’t see their opponent’s face. Following several such confrontations, the older warrior triumphed over the younger warrior. The younger warrior was killed. When the older warrior took off his mask, he realized that he had killed was his own lost son. Seeing this, the older warrior – who is none other than the weeping Buddha – began to cry.

It is believed that the weeping Buddha takes away the grief and troubles of the world. In return, he bestows peace and provides strength to those who rub his back.

Pictured above is the Weeping Buddha Incense Holder from Buddha Groove.

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What is the significance of Turtle Dragon with Happy Buddha in Happy Buddha Statues?

The statue of a Happy Buddha sitting on a Dragon Turtle signifies happiness, good luck and fortune. The Dragon Turtle sitting on a bed of coins and gold ingots is a distinct representation of wealth and prosperity. The Dragon Turtle is a Chinese legendary symbol depicting the dragon’s head and the turtle’s body. The dragon represents courage and strength. The turtle stands for support and stability. This powerful combination of two Feng Shui symbols brings together the qualities of the dragon and the turtle, which indicates long life, permanence and success. The Happy Buddha on a Dragon Turtle is known to be a perfect remedy to combat bad luck which comes in the form of illness, financial losses and mishaps.

Pictured above Happy Buddha Statue from Buddha Groove