| The most common pose for a Buddha figurine is | | | | turned to face you. |
| meditating in the lotus position. In this pose, Buddha sits | | | | This leads us to the popular Dispelling Fear Pose. |
| with his legs crossed, and his feet on top of his thighs. | | | | We've seen how good a can deliver blessings and |
| Sometimes he'll be shown with a lotus flower or a | | | | grant wishes. Many people wish to reduce or eliminate |
| snake. The lotus flower is a symbol of the path a | | | | their fear, which leads them to turn to Buddha. Most |
| person takes as he grows from the mud of everyday | | | | often, the dispelling fear pose shows Buddha standing |
| existence toward the beauty of enlightenment. Snakes | | | | with one hand raised near his shoulder, palm toward |
| have a long history in Buddhist tradition, including the | | | | you. |
| idea that snakes have powers similar to those that | | | | The Teaching Pose recognizes Buddhas legacy as |
| European traditions assign to dragons. | | | | one of the Earth's greatest teachers. Buddha devoted |
| You will also often see Buddha depicted in the Earth | | | | his life to teaching other people the path to |
| Touching Pose. This is a symbol of Buddhism's | | | | Enlightenment. And in this pose, he has his hand near |
| connection to Nature. Buddhists don't believe that the | | | | his shoulder, his palm facing you, and his thumb and |
| earth was created for us to exploit it. Instead we are | | | | index finger touching. This is a symbol of Buddhas |
| to recognize that animals are spiritual beings | | | | ability to communicate vital insights. |
| themselves, beings who are on their own path toward | | | | You will see two different Reclining Buddha poses. In |
| their own Enlightenment. The Earth Touching Pose | | | | the first, you'll see Buddha on his side with his hand |
| shows Buddha seated in the lotus position, with his right | | | | propping up his head. In this pose, Buddha is simply |
| hand touching the ground near his right knee. | | | | resting. |
| The Wish Giving Pose for a Buddha figurine reminds | | | | In the second Reclining Buddha pose, Buddha's bottom |
| us of Buddha's desire that everyone experience | | | | hand is near his side. In this pose, Buddha has passed |
| eternal happiness and world peace. Some practitioners | | | | on to Nirvana. Nirvana is the state of being free from |
| believe that Buddha himself can grant wishes. There is | | | | suffering. It is one of the central ideas in the concept of |
| no direct Western equivalent for this; the closest | | | | Enlightenment. |
| parallel in Christianity might be the way that some | | | | Most people who acquire only a single Buddha figurine |
| Catholics will pray to a Saint for help. The Wish Giving | | | | choose one showing Buddha meditating in the lotus |
| Pose shows Buddha with his right hand extended | | | | position. Many of these Buddha figurines are |
| toward you, with his palm turned up toward the sky. | | | | purchased by people who aren't themselves Buddhist. |
| The Blessing Pose expresses a similar idea. Because | | | | Instead they are buying the figurine simply for |
| Buddha can grant wishes, it makes sense that Buddha | | | | decoration. |
| can bless you. Peace and serenity are the most | | | | People whose Buddhist practice is more focused |
| common blessings that Buddha delivers. But there are | | | | often acquire multiple Buddha figurines. In those |
| many other themes for Buddha's blessings, including | | | | Buddhas households, you'll see Buddha in every room, |
| health, love, and well-being. The Blessing Pose shows | | | | and often several times in the same room in a variety |
| Buddha with his right hand near his chest, with his palm | | | | of poses. |