Buddha Statues facing East

Pictures of revered teachers, places, rupas, temples, bhikkhus, shrine rooms etc. that bring inspiration to our members. Pilgrimage advice, devotion etc.
Mawkish1983
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Mawkish1983 »

I see what you mean Tilt: what I consider to be unhelpful to my practice may be helpful someone else, and what I consider to be helpful to my practice may be unhelpful to someone else (sorry for repeating what's been said already). Hmmm, I've much to learn.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by tiltbillings »

Mawkish1983 wrote:Hmmm, I've much to learn.
And it never stops.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Refugee
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Refugee »

I thank everyone who responded to this thread. The posts were both interesting and helpful.
:anjali:
My practice is simply this: Avoid evil, do good, and purify the mind.
Laurens
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Laurens »

Its just a statue, kick its head off it you want to... You're not gonna hurt Buddhism
"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
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Guy
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Guy »

Laurens wrote:Its just a statue, kick its head off it you want to... You're not gonna hurt Buddhism
You'd probably hurt your foot though.
Four types of letting go:

1) Giving; expecting nothing back in return
2) Throwing things away
3) Contentment; wanting to be here, not wanting to be anywhere else
4) "Teflon Mind"; having a mind which doesn't accumulate things

- Ajahn Brahm
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oceanmen
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by oceanmen »

maybe we can learn from the example of the Buddha,
where did he meditate? what direction? in nature?
under a tree? or sitting in front of his statue?
and what was more important?
the meditation or the location/direction?

just wondering...
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Refugee
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Refugee »

Laurens wrote:Its just a statue, kick its head off it you want to... You're not gonna hurt Buddhism
It's not "just a statue" for me. The shrine and the images of the Buddha in it help me to focus on, reflect on, and be inspired by the Dhamma. For me, Buddhism is a "religion" and not just a "philosophy". That's the way I see it. Others may see it differently and I respect that.

As for kicking off the head of the :buddha1: statue... :cookoo:

Metta,
Tim
My practice is simply this: Avoid evil, do good, and purify the mind.
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tiltbillings
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by tiltbillings »

Refugee wrote:
Laurens wrote:Its just a statue, kick its head off it you want to... You're not gonna hurt Buddhism
It's not "just a statue" for me. The shrine and the images of the Buddha in it help me to focus on, reflect on, and be inspired by the Dhamma. For me, Buddhism is a "religion" and not just a "philosophy". That's the way I see it. Others may see it differently and I respect that.

As for kicking off the head of the :buddha1: statue... :cookoo:

Metta,
Tim
As i said, dso what is meaningful for and pay no heed to the statue kickers.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Mukunda
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Mukunda »

Laurens wrote:Its just a statue, kick its head off it you want to... You're not gonna hurt Buddhism
No, you won't hurt Buddhism. But what does it say about one's mind set? :thinking:
:anjali:
Laurens
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Laurens »

The comment I made meant not disrespect or anything, all I am saying is you can do what you want really, its only a statue.

Like when the Buddha's were destroyed in Afghanistan... That did nothing to the Dhamma at all. It's not about statues - That's my point.
"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
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salmon
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by salmon »

Perhaps this east facing/west facing this has some cultural strings attached. In some Asian countries, people will choose a house which gets "morning sun" (east) rather than the "evening sun" (west). When I asked why, I was told that while morning sun is conducive to health, evening sun is harsh. Which is the same reason traditional Chinese folks will "bake" their babies in morning sun (not evening) to rid them of jaundice.

Just a guess...


PS. my altar faces west, by the way, because the layout of my room only allows for it to be placed that way.

PPS. good to be able to read and post again. thanks retro! :)
~ swimming upstream is tough work! ~
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DNS
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by DNS »

shrtyp1 wrote:What happens if tuesday meditating buddha statue faces north?
The face of the Buddha statue gets very little sun (in the northern hemisphere).

No apocalypse, nothing else happens.
denice
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by denice »

do not attach yourself to the worry over if your shrine faces east .i agree with the first reply that it is merely rites and rituals .the shrine in essence is for mindfullness that once again you are not meant to attach to.after all it is your path ,there is no disrespect if it faces another direction all directions come together .i myself have a shrine in my home. so long as your buddha statue is above you as you are seated you are fine .
plwk
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by plwk »

so long as your buddha statue is above you as you are seated you are fine .
And if it isn't, then what?
denice
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Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by denice »

@ plwk ......if it isnt above you then nothing ...however the statue is not buddha ..we all are buddha already ,the statue placement of above you while seated in front is as a reminder of enlightenment ,and all other customs are done with respectfulness ,my point to the original question was not to attach to the worry of placement
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