| ales is pleased to offer collectors and religious | | | | mudra and the left lying in the lap. The uttarasanga (the |
| practitioners alike a line of exquisitely hand-carved | | | | upper robe of the Buddhist monastic garment, the |
| Buddha statues. These Buddha statues are brought to | | | | "triple robe" or tricivara) is worn in the open mode and |
| you from village communities all over the countryside | | | | the sanghati (the outer robe of this garment) is folded |
| of Thailand. These statues are marketed in | | | | decoratively on the left shoulder. |
| accordance with the principles and practices of Fair | | | | This "Mandalay" style of Buddhist statue developed |
| Trade, adding strict quality control and professional | | | | towards the end of the eighteenth or in the early |
| organization, using profits to help Thai artisans maintain | | | | nineteenth century. Mandalay was the last capital |
| their traditional skills. | | | | (1860–1885) of the last independent Burmese |
| Theravada Buddhism has been the predominant | | | | Kingdom before annexation by the British after the |
| religion in Thailand since early recorded history. For | | | | Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885. |
| over 2500 years the people of Thailand have followed | | | | In addition, one can choose a Sitting Thai Buddha |
| the peaceful and self-reflective teachings of the | | | | Statue. 16 inches high and weighing nearly 20 pounds, |
| Buddha, or "Dharma", which evolved directly out of the | | | | this statue features the flame of Illumination rising up |
| "dharma" of Hinduism, which in that context is "the way | | | | from the Buddha's seventh or Crown chakra at the |
| things work". These teachings inform all parts of the | | | | top of the head. This statue embodies the Theravada |
| society within the kingdom, uniting the Thai people into | | | | Buddhism of Thailand. |
| a harmonious whole. | | | | One of the best pieces is the Large Standing Royal |
| One fine choice is the Large Standing Japanese | | | | Ayuddhaya Buddha Statue. Five feet tall and weighing |
| Buddha Statue. Standing five feet high and weighing | | | | 25 pounds like the aforementioned standing Buddha |
| 25 pounds, this statue embodies that time in the 6th | | | | statue, this work of art embodies the "illuminated |
| century when Buddhism was imported to Japan from | | | | royalty" of ancient Thailand. The inscription of King |
| China and Korea in the form of a present from the | | | | Ramkhamhaeng the Great (1292) mentions that a |
| friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara (Paikche). | | | | monk from the southern province of Nakorn Sri |
| At this time, although Buddhism was welcomed by the | | | | Dhammaraja — who had studied the Pali |
| ruling nobles as Japan's new state religion, it did not | | | | Buddhist Canon (or Tipitaka) from beginning to end |
| initially spread among the common people due to its | | | | — lived at the Forest Temple in the kingdom of |
| complex theories. During the Nara Period of the 8th | | | | Sukhothai and was the Supreme Patriarch (Pali |
| century, the great Buddhist monasteries in the capital | | | | sangharaja) of the monkhood. This statement is one |
| city of Nara, such as Todaiji, gained strong political | | | | of the earliest statements used by a king to legitimize |
| influence. This problem of politically ambitious and | | | | his right to rule in accordance with Buddhist |
| militant monasteries remained a main issue for the | | | | righteousness. |
| governments over many centuries of Japanese | | | | The "New Style" Large Reclining Mandalay Buddha |
| history. The Large Standing Japanese Buddha Statue | | | | Statue shows the divine one in much-deserved and |
| takes one back to those turbulent times. | | | | sublime repose. Five feet tall and weighing 25 pounds, |
| Another exquisite offering of Buddha statues is the | | | | this statue embodies a Buddhist prophecy for Burma. |
| Sitting Royal Mandalay Buddha Statue. 20 inches tall | | | | Unlike other Burmese towns, Mandalay did not grow |
| and weighing 22 pounds, this statue is made in the | | | | from a smaller settlement, although a small village Hti |
| classical Mandalay Buddha style. A broad band | | | | Baunga did exist nearby. Mandalay was set up in an |
| stretches across the forehead, and the hair hugs the | | | | empty area at the foot of the 775 ft high Mandalay Hill |
| head in tight curls and covers a broad prominent | | | | according to a prophecy made by the Buddha that in |
| ushnish (a Sanskrit word referring to the protuberance | | | | that exact place a great city, a metropolis of |
| at the top of the head of a Buddha Rupa representing | | | | Buddhism, would come into existence on the occasion |
| the flame of supreme illumination). There is no lotus | | | | of the 2400th jubilee of Buddhism. Allegedly this is |
| finial above. | | | | precisely what happened. |
| The images are frequently seated in vajrasana (a | | | | These and other beautiful Buddhist statues are carried |
| Yoga posture designed to remove drowsiness, | | | | by Avendales for enhancing your home or office |
| strengthen the spine, help digestion, and enhance | | | | artistically, historically, or spiritually. |
| meditation) with the right hand in the bhumisparsa | | | | |