| A mudra is a motion or gesture of the hands and body | | | | spiritual life. |
| to express a feeling or thought. Buddhist meditation | | | | Mara existed in many incarnations in Buddhist lore, |
| rituals are based on the use of mudras. One prominent | | | | from all powerful, evil creature to impish nuisance. This |
| mudra, is the Bhumisparsha mudra. Translated from | | | | demon was a symbol of temptation who summoned |
| Sanskrit it means 'earth touching.' The earth touching | | | | beautiful temptresses to distract the Buddha from his |
| pose (or mudra) is most often seen in statues of | | | | spiritual journey much like the sirens of Greek |
| Buddha and is also referred to as the earth witness | | | | Mythology |
| mudra. | | | | The second of the Five Great Buddhas (Five Dhyani |
| To perform this mudra, the hand is placed on the | | | | Buddhas), Akshobhya, is depicted in the earth touching |
| ground with all fingers touching and reaching toward | | | | pose. Akshobhya is a manifestation of strength, |
| the ground. The palm faces inward. It is symbolic of | | | | confidence and determination and the use of the |
| the moment when Buddha summoned the Earth | | | | Bhumisparsha mudra is a reflection of that. The |
| goddess to witness his attainment of enlightenment | | | | concept of the Five Great Buddhas was an evolution |
| under the Bodhi tree. For this reason, the pose is also | | | | of the Buddhist theology. Initially only two existed, |
| known as 'Summoning the Earth Goddess to Witness.' | | | | wisdom and compassion. |
| Buddha statues in the earth touching mudra have the | | | | Akshobhya sits in the Eastern position and is thought |
| right arm resting on the right knee with the fingers of | | | | to possess the mirror wisdom that converts anger to |
| the hand extended downward. The statue shows the | | | | wisdom. He is associated with the element water, |
| Buddha with his left hand resting in his lap with the palm | | | | mirror-like itself and symbolic of Akshobhya's ability to |
| skyward in the meditation mudra (dhyana mudra). The | | | | help people see things as they truly are. |
| combination of mudras is intended to symbolize the | | | | The simple beauty of this mudra is a welcome |
| union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra. | | | | reminder that temptation can be confronted by |
| Buddhist teachings tell the tale of how Shakyamuni, the | | | | strength. A popular Asian decor accent, the earth |
| historical Buddha, assumed the earth touching pose to | | | | touching Buddha statue can be a constant symbol of |
| resist against the temptations and distractions of the | | | | strength and resolve in the home. |
| demon Mara who sought to lure the Buddha from his | | | | |