Have you come across the Idol, which is featured in this piece of art work?..This statue represents, a prominent character, amongst “Seven Lucky Gods” of Taoism and Japanese mythology,widely known as “Budai”..Inline with Aesthetic beliefs, “Budai” is a divine form, in whom are vested the discretion and abilities, to grant wealth and prosperity, specifically in granial forms..However, due to lack of knowledge or exposure to cultures, and beliefs of the far East, people from the western hemisphere usually misinterpret, misidentify, or confuse this Budai, with the “Gautama Buddha”, the Universally acknowledged enlightened being..This is an understandable phenomenon..However, as Buddhists, it is not right for us to leave them to their misconceptions..It should be an utmost duty of ours, to clear this misidentification factor, by correcting them on the distinction between the Buddha, and Budai..
Yet, this is not the most devastating factor of the hour..There are some among ourselves, belonging to our own social segment, who are presently being mislead by the same form of confusion!!..This, my friends, is a grave concern..and it should be a grave concern, for those who are genuinely concerned about Identity of Buddhism, preservation and cotinuing existence, of this truthful form of science…
We witness an alarming trend of Buddhists, worshipping or treating the statue of Budai, in equal resemblence to the Buddha..this poses a direct pragmatic threat, to “Shradda” or the absolute trust Buddhists levy in the Buddha..for any religious philosophy to succeed, the image of it`s supreme most preacher, teacher and leader, should comprise of glittering personality and characteristics..Now it is quite obvious to you, that dwarfish and plump physical appearence depicted by the statue of Budai, does not carry the “Iconic” personal features anyone could expect from a whole and wisdom filled personnel as the Buddha..Thus, if there is a time to come in which, the “Kanishka” designed formation of the Buddha statue, is to be replaced with that of Budai, it is needless to highlight the extensive and irreversible damage it would cause, on the reputation and personality of Gautama Buddha..Sadly, this replacement is rapidly taking shape, even among the Buddhist community..
The unsubstantiated and unsolicitated “myth” of feng shui is now widely in practice, even in Buddhist Sri Lanka..This fact can be clearly observed, in Business institutions, and households, at a rapid increment in number of observers..Under the guise of purely baseless aspects and rules swarming in from Feng shui promotions, the statue of Budai has begun to invade spaces, which were earlier reserved for proper Buddha statues..
The biggest disasters that could happen are, ofcourse, the “registration” of these mythical beliefs, in a society which is already burdened with an uncalculatable number and range of superstition and Buddhist children identifying statue of “Budai”, as that of their great teacher, the Buddha…The latter could spell devastating for the “Buddha Sasana”, for “Shradda”, the first step in the journey to Niravana, or the ulitmate bliss, will be seriously harmed, once the image of the buddha is harmed in the hearts and minds of buddhist children, who are the future of “Buddha Sasana”..Further, Non-Buddhists, who are with obedience to other faiths, do have a certain degree of respect and honor towards the great personality “Gautama Buddha” posseses..any replacement of Budai replica to that of the Buddha, could decimiate such respect, Buddhism and it`s great universal teacher, get from believers of other faiths…Know it that they would always be watching!!
There so much that we care…Thus, I implore you, in the name of the Buddha Sasana, so protected with sweat and toil, and in the name of your own children, to come to a proper understanding on the situation and refrain from treating this fat and plump statue of Budai, as that of “Gautama Buddha”..for the sake of your future, and your children`s future as Buddhists, please be informed..please be aware..please be updated….Buddhists all around the world, treat this as your resolute responsibility, to clear the fog of doubt and misconception, in hearts and minds of those who are around you….
Dear Non-Buddhist readers, it is time for you to diminish on your own misidentification as well..desciples of other faith, as you are, you have a certain degree of respect, towards the personality of “Gautama Buddha”..Do not let it be destroyed, by the mere sight of a dwarfish, and plump mythical God called “Budai”, who does not have any virtual or theoritical resemblence to THE BUDDHA…
For the sake of all beings on Earth and beyond..I shall declare with utmost responsibility..that the NEITHER THE STATUE, NOR THE BELIEF OF BUDAI, HAVE ANY FORM OF CONNECTION WHATSOEVER TO ANY BRANCH OF BUDDHISM, be it may “Theravada” form or ” Mahayana”….I repeat, THE STATUE OF BUDAI, OR ANY BELIEFS ANNEXED TO WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONNECTION WHAT SO EVER, TO GAUTAMA BUDDHA, THE SUPREME-MOST TEACHER OF BUDDHISM or to ANY BRANCH OF BUDDHISM IN PRACTICE…
How do we tell Buddha, from Budai?……
The Buddha, the Greatest preacher mankind and beyond has ever witnessed, and were fortunate enough to witness, was in possesion of a magnificient personality…A personality so great, and so deep, that it passes light years above any form of humane or celestial personalities…His limitless wisdom, the untimelyness of his preachings, are clearly depicted in the person he was…His very appearence and the splendour, was convincing enough..
No Buddha statue on Earth, moulded by any artist, is smooth enough to stand as a 100% accurate and proper replica of, or come anywhere closer to featuring this personality the iconic figure himself possesed..Thus, could you ever believe, that an artist would have seen the wisdom and limitless kindness Gautama Buddha had in his character, over a “jestor-like” statue of Budai, which resembles a retired Banker!!!
My friends…The Buddha had 32 Signs in him, which Buddhas of generations ALONE would have…These are known as “32 SIGNS OF A GREAT BEING”…for your information, and for the benefit of others who confuse that baldy man known as Budai, with Great Gautama Buddha, I present to you a brief description of each distinctive character, through which you will be able to identify who the real Buddha was…Each description, will be preceded with the original version in the language of “PALI”..the mother tongue of Gautama Buddha…
1. Supati thapado – when he treads on the ground, his lotus feet touches the ground evenly with his sole..the whole sole equally levels with the ground, unlike that of a normal human being..
2. hethapadatalesu cakkani jatani – He has noble signs, on the surface of his lotus feet…Signs which depict his supreme status, and the service he brought to the universe…These signs include a sign of a wheel, which resembles his teachings…
3. Ayatha Panhi – his heels are long and well projected
4. Dighanguli – Fingers of his feet are long and well built…”Diga” in pali refers to length..
5. mudutalahathapado – The skin of his feet are soft and tender..”Mudu” refers to softness, and “Thalahathapado” means to sole of feet…
6. Jalahathapado – lines resembling nets are in his hands and feet…”Jala” here stands in pali for “net”
7. ussankhapado – His ankles are held high..”Ussa” stand for height..this feature made him the tall iconic figure he was..
8. enimigasadisa jangho – his taut muscles were like those of a grown deer..Note : none of his muscles were as flabby and as plump, saggy as those depicted in the statue of Budai….
9. thitako va anonamanto – while standing up right, he could touch his knees without bending forward…
10. kosohitavatguyho – his sexual organs are concealed in a sheath…
11. Swarna wanno – His skin was the color of gold…”Swarna” in pali refers to Gold…
12. sukhumacchavi – his skin was well toned and Superb
13. ekekalomo – the hair in his body, unlike those of in an average human body, were seperate with one hair per a pore..
14. uddhagalomo – His hair are fine black…absolutely well toned…matching his skin…
15. brahmujugatto – His body was straight and upright..NOW AGAIN HERE..NOTE how different this point of description is, from the hunchback and plump figure of “Budai”…
16. satusado – he had seven convexities in his skin….”Sath” here refers to seven
17.sihapubadhakayo – The front of his body, was strong and rigid as that of a male Lion..”Siha” stands in pali for a Lion…
18. pitantara mso – Unlike in an average human body, the “furrows” of shoulders are not left unfilled..they are full and long..
19. nigrodhaparimandalo – the distance between hands and head to his toes are on equal scale..”Nigroda” is a tree found in ancient India, which grows “straight up”, without leaning to either side..his height and body resembles this tree…This makes him the idol of a perfect human male..now again, see the difference this Ancient buddhist description has to that funny fellow Budai, up until now you thought of, as the Buddha…
20. samvaddakhando – his neck, is very circular and smooth..the laughable figure of Budai is so fat that it has no visible neck at all!!
21. rasagasagi – The taste buds in his silver tongue, serves him equally to grant a better taste..
22. Sihahanu – His jaws resemble those of a male Lion..strong and straight..
23. Samadanto – Buddha`s teeth are, unlike those found in an average human mouth, equal in scale and size..
24. Susumakka – His smile is filled with kindness and is convincing..
25. Aviraladanto – His sacred teeth do not have any gaps between them..They are flawless
26. Sukhadanto – His teeth are purely, sparkling white
27. Pahutha jiwho – his Silver tongue, is strong, broad and straight
28. brahmasaro – his voice, is fine tuned, sharp and very convincing
29. abhi nila sunetto – his eyes are of fine oceanic color..This makes him an “Aryan”, a race with eyes of oceanic colors…
30. gopa mukho – lashes of his eyes are like those of a young ox..well filled and lined
31. unaloma bhamukantarejata – His hair had turned to right in a handsome pattern
32. unahisiso – his head resembles closer to a perfect water bubble….
These are the 32 Great signs, which are distinct to Buddhas predecessed “Gautama Buddha”, and Buddhas to succeed him..These signs WERE NOT, AND WILL NOT BE SEEN IN any other humane figure, EVER to walk the planet Earth..ONLY Buddhas are born with them..
This brief descripition is enough, for wise you, to distinct between the “Baldy man” who`s being sold to you as a mythical grantor of good fortune, and the Wisdom-filled Gallant Individual, who is ” Gautama Buddha”…
Therefore, I urge you to clear the mist of doubt and confusion caused by lack of ” a properly guided” exposure to Aesthetic beliefs and cultures, and sharply identify ” THE PERSONALITY AND THE PATH OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA”…
