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.
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Ben »

denice wrote:we all are buddha already
Hmmm....
I think if you check you might find that you're not actually a Buddha but a putthujana (worldling).

Plwk:
The placement of a Buddharupa is about developing respect, gratitude and some of those other good-to-have mental qualities which assists one on the path.
kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
plwk
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:14 am

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by plwk »

Thank you denice.

True Ben. The Southern Indian friends I know have no qualms placing religious statues on the floor, including a Buddha rupa. To them, that spot on the floor is as usable as a higher platform as long as it's a designated area for religious practice. In my culture, the Chinese one that is, however, it is totally 'inappropriate' or even 'taboo' to place anything religious or regarded as respectable on the floor and should always be eye level or higher. Hence, I came to a conclusion, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'...
User avatar
gavesako
Posts: 1794
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:16 pm

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by gavesako »

It seems that there is also a tradition at least in Korea to express different aspects of the Buddha in the four directions:

Each statue has different hand positions. The Buddha facing east is in the fearless position. The Buddha facing west is Turning the Wheel of Dharma. The Buddha facing south is touching the earth and the Buddha facing north is in the reclining position (the Buddha's final state of enlightenment before his death).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palsangjeon


But mostly it is a matter of folk beliefs and ritual behaviour, as this article shows:

Buddha statue has to face east, officials say
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/b ... icials-say
Bhikkhu Gavesako
Kiṃkusalagavesī anuttaraṃ santivarapadaṃ pariyesamāno... (MN 26)

Access to Insight - Theravada texts
Ancient Buddhist Texts - Translations and history of Pali texts
Dhammatalks.org - Sutta translations
SarathW
Posts: 21257
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by SarathW »

[quoteBut mostly it is a matter of folk beliefs and ritual behaviour, as this article shows:][/quote]

I am not going to discard old belief without some good investigations.
When we say Buddhas statue, we are not just talking about concrete or rocks.
Buddha's statue is a meditation lesson written without words or letters. (eg: cross leggs and body erect is an important when meditate)
It also should remember that Hindus were worshiping sun in this period and Buddha had to adhere to some customs.
Another factor is the earths magnetic fields and we do not know how it affect our mind states.
If you are meditating in the morning will you be facing east or west?
If you are meditating in the afternoon will you be facing east or west?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
pilgrim
Posts: 1679
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:56 pm

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by pilgrim »

So why did the Buddha face east?
Well we know that the Buddha was enlightened on the morning of Wesak that is in May. This time of the year is the peak of the hot indian summer. He first sat down under the Bodhi tree on the evening of Wesak Eve probably around 5 to 6 pm when the sun was low on the horizon.
So the Buddha faced east, for no mystical reason but because in this position, he was on the eastern part of the large Bodhi tree where the shade was and he had his back to the Bodhi tree and the evening sun.
:namaste:
User avatar
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 4647
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

When meditating, one should sit facing towards nibbāna, which means that one should practice with one's mind inclined towards not clinging to anything, whether that be pleasant experiences, unpleasant experiences, having good concentration, poor concentration, pure thoughts, impure thoughts, etc.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
SarathW
Posts: 21257
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by SarathW »

When meditating, one should sit facing towards nibbāna
I think we have to be practical.
You cant meditate if you are sitting on a volcano.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
Mkoll
Posts: 6594
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:55 pm
Location: USA

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Mkoll »

SarathW wrote:
When meditating, one should sit facing towards nibbāna
I think we have to be practical.
You cant meditate if you are sitting on a volcano.
I think Bhante's comment was meant to be taken figuratively, not physically.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
User avatar
Bhikkhu Pesala
Posts: 4647
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:17 pm

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

I think Sarath's comment was also meant to be taken figuratively. You cannot meditate facing nibbāna if your mind is erupting with defilements.
BlogPāli FontsIn This Very LifeBuddhist ChroniclesSoftware (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
User avatar
Mkoll
Posts: 6594
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:55 pm
Location: USA

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by Mkoll »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:I think Sarath's comment was also meant to be taken figuratively. You cannot meditate facing nibbāna if your mind is erupting with defilements.
Perhaps. "Sitting on a volcano" is an expression I haven't heard before.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17194
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by DNS »

Cool, another topic necro-posted back up to front page. Reading this thread brought back some memories...
pilgrim wrote:So why did the Buddha face east?
Well we know that the Buddha was enlightened on the morning of Wesak that is in May. This time of the year is the peak of the hot indian summer. He first sat down under the Bodhi tree on the evening of Wesak Eve probably around 5 to 6 pm when the sun was low on the horizon.
So the Buddha faced east, for no mystical reason but because in this position, he was on the eastern part of the large Bodhi tree where the shade was and he had his back to the Bodhi tree and the evening sun.
:namaste:
Yes, I agree with this and also the other posters that if it has meaning for you, then by all means do so, but focusing on it as if it were some kind of commandment would be attachment to rites, rituals.

Since this topic first began in the meantime I had a Maha Bodhi replica built at my place and by good luck and chance has it, the position was just right so that it faces East, including the main Buddha statue inside.

:buddha2:
SarathW
Posts: 21257
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Buddha Statues facing East

Post by SarathW »

by good luck and chance
It appears world protecting Deva is helping you.
:D
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Post Reply