Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

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philosopher
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Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by philosopher »

They look nice in the photos, but I've had mixed luck with Overstock, and I imagine a statue would be pricey to return.

https://www.overstock.com/search?keywor ... ype=Header

I especially love the "pondering" Buddhas (is that what that posture is called?) in the top row.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by Sam Vara »

philosopher wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:19 am
I especially love the "pondering" Buddhas (is that what that posture is called?) in the top row.
There are figures in the same posture at our local monastery, placed on either side of the main buddha-rupa as if listening or attending. For this reason, I've always assumed (and I could be wrong - I never thought to ask!) that they represent the Buddha's disciples, rather the Buddha himself. Again, there are people on here who know more about this than I do. If they don't respond to this thread, you might want to ask a more general question before you order anything.
User1249x
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by User1249x »

Vinaya of the Sarvastivadins apparently has a passage which is an injunction against The Tathagata's image making. In the passage, Anathapindika asks the Great Lord,” World honored one, if images of yours are not allowed to be made, pray, may we not at least make images of Bodhisattvas in attendance upon you?” The Buddha gives his assent to it.

Afak it is widely held that it is for this reason that there is no art depicting the Buddha for about 500 years after Parinibbana.
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JamesTheGiant
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by JamesTheGiant »

Holy Spit, they're expensive!
Don't do it!
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samseva
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by samseva »

You can find Buddha images in many other places, where they are almost 8x less expensive than the ones that are on that website (seriously, those are really expensive, and shipping isn't even included).

Just look around in hipster and spirituality-type stores. Go to a yoga studio and ask the teacher or students there. There are good places for sure; you just need to find them.
philosopher
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by philosopher »

Sam Vara wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 6:45 am
philosopher wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:19 am
I especially love the "pondering" Buddhas (is that what that posture is called?) in the top row.
There are figures in the same posture at our local monastery, placed on either side of the main buddha-rupa as if listening or attending. For this reason, I've always assumed (and I could be wrong - I never thought to ask!) that they represent the Buddha's disciples, rather the Buddha himself. Again, there are people on here who know more about this than I do. If they don't respond to this thread, you might want to ask a more general question before you order anything.
That's really fascinating. Thank you for sharing that information. I wonder if the same is true of this one? https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/p ... g5045.html
philosopher
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by philosopher »

JamesTheGiant wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:58 am Holy Spit, they're expensive!
Don't do it!
I know... they seem overpriced.
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Sam Vara
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by Sam Vara »

philosopher wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 2:18 am
Sam Vara wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 6:45 am
philosopher wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:19 am
I especially love the "pondering" Buddhas (is that what that posture is called?) in the top row.
There are figures in the same posture at our local monastery, placed on either side of the main buddha-rupa as if listening or attending. For this reason, I've always assumed (and I could be wrong - I never thought to ask!) that they represent the Buddha's disciples, rather the Buddha himself. Again, there are people on here who know more about this than I do. If they don't respond to this thread, you might want to ask a more general question before you order anything.
That's really fascinating. Thank you for sharing that information. I wonder if the same is true of this one? https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/p ... g5045.html
That one is labelled as the Bodhisattva ("Buddha-to-be") so I guess it is not strictly the Buddha, for devotional purposes.

It occurred to me that my local Theravadan monastery gets given loads of Buddha-rupas, and they are happy to give these away to anyone who seems to be practising faithfully. Is there a monastery near you? It's worth asking them, given the price issue and shipping!
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Aloka
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by Aloka »

JamesTheGiant wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:58 am Holy Spit, they're expensive!
Don't do it!

Yes, I agree. Similar statues can be found in the big DIY centres with outdoor gardening sections - and also in some of the PDSA charity shops in the UK, for less than that !

.
philosopher
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by philosopher »

Sam Vara wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:05 am
philosopher wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 2:18 am
Sam Vara wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 6:45 am

There are figures in the same posture at our local monastery, placed on either side of the main buddha-rupa as if listening or attending. For this reason, I've always assumed (and I could be wrong - I never thought to ask!) that they represent the Buddha's disciples, rather the Buddha himself. Again, there are people on here who know more about this than I do. If they don't respond to this thread, you might want to ask a more general question before you order anything.
That's really fascinating. Thank you for sharing that information. I wonder if the same is true of this one? https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/p ... g5045.html
That one is labelled as the Bodhisattva ("Buddha-to-be") so I guess it is not strictly the Buddha, for devotional purposes.

It occurred to me that my local Theravadan monastery gets given loads of Buddha-rupas, and they are happy to give these away to anyone who seems to be practising faithfully. Is there a monastery near you? It's worth asking them, given the price issue and shipping!
This is a great idea - I will ask. Thanks!
philosopher
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by philosopher »

Aloka wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:57 am
JamesTheGiant wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:58 am Holy Spit, they're expensive!
Don't do it!

Yes, I agree. Similar statues can be found in the big DIY centres with outdoor gardening sections - and also in some of the PDSA charity shops in the UK, for less than that !

.
Oooh, great idea! I will check out my local gardening stores. Re: charity shops, I think the Christian based one here in the USA (Salvation Army) doesn't sell Buddhist items, but I can try the others.

Really appreciate your response! :anjali:
cathpeti40
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Re: Has anyone ordered / seen in person Three Hands Buddha statues?

Post by cathpeti40 »

User1249x wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:15 am Vinaya of the Sarvastivadins apparently has a passage which is an injunction against The Tathagata's image making. In the passage, Anathapindika asks the Great Lord,” World honored one, if images of yours are not allowed to be made Douche plain-pied, pray, may we not at least make images of Bodhisattvas in attendance upon you?” The Buddha gives his assent to it.

Afak it is widely held that it is for this reason that there is no art depicting the Buddha for about 500 years after Parinibbana.
This is the first time I hear this story while I have been a Buddhist for quite some time.
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