I’m attracted to statues of the Buddha and over the past few years have bought three. They evoke an emotional gateway to a place inside. Of course the image is of an ideal. The first one I got, the Buddha is sitting in lotus position and represents to me peaceful surrender. I got it at a stressful time. I obtained the big bellied laughing Buddha when everything felt too intense.The smiling Buddha is historicallyconnected with prosperity and wealth but that is not my attraction. For me it’s “Lighten up Leslie!”.
I think of different things that attract or affect us. Whatever is at work is deep and biological. I’m sentimental. Seeing pictures of Kyle and Luke when they were little always transports me. But I guess any time we’re thinking, we’re transported out of the deep present reality we all sense. But I digress.
Like most people, women especially, we feel a warm peace inside when seeing a picture of a sleeping baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if endorphins are kicking in. Seeing a sports team’s logo on a cap may start the pheromones kicking for some people, I’ll guess more often men. Images of the Hawaiian coast sell so well for calendars because that azure water conjures up feelings of a certain heavenly bliss and freedom. Of course there are zillions of symbols we unconsciously are affected by every day.
When peaceful surrender isn’t there for me, I’m feeling empty or upset, I want comfort so I may go eat something or buy something that emotionally fills a need temporarily. I’m not putting a virtue judgment on this but I do feel better if I take that energy and instead take a walk, do inquiry, play music, take care of business, call someone to see how they are doing or whatever. I’m sure I’m not alone here.
When I am being mindful, in essence meditating, I don’t look at the Buddha as separate. I don’t think of anything as separate. When I am feeling happy I don’t look to Hawaii to be some place I “need” to go, etc. It all is a projection from what is going on inside me. Of course the objects that are symbols are not what they appear. This Buddha statue here is a block of resin (not that that’s nothing but you know what I mean) It’s just the power of imagination and attaching definition to whatever it is.
By the way, I don’t equate the statues with the 4 Noble Truths from the Buddha. I think eternal truths are not connected with objects. I find so true that what Buddha said. http://www.centertao.org/essays/buddhas-four-noble-truths/
I feel the same way about my buddhas. When my glaze lands on them, I return home. It’s a good feeling.
I’m very aware of how attracted I am to these statues, so much so that I’m very careful about buying them. I only have 2.
Recently, my husband insisted on buying a gigantic television, so I placed my largest buddha next to it. It’s a nice balance, I think. I’ll post a picture of it on my facebook page.