Expert: Bodhicitta - 5/16/2005

Question
In school I am doing a report on Buddha and Buddhism. I am trying to figure out information about why you worship the idol, when there was a walking Siddartha, how the idol was started, and any other information you think would be good for my report!
Thank You,
Kirstin

Answer
Hi Kirstin
Thanks for your interesting question. Out of interest
where are you located? I have questions from all around
the world these days the world is small!

The first question is of course to define what Buddhism is.
Buddha means Awakened one. Buddhism is a path to awakening.
The starting point for Buddhism is that we are confused we are out of touch
with reality. There are many analogies for this. It is like
we are in a dream and dont know it. We are in a magical
illusion. A mirage. The modern image of the Matrix is
very Buddhist if you have seen that film. All these
are saying that the universe is very different from what
we imagine.

The son of a king, Siddhartha lived 2500 years a go in India and developped
a system of meditation, a set of methods that one could
follow to wake up! Because Siddharta followed these methods himself he became known as Shakyamuni Buddha. If you followed them you would become Kirstin Buddha! This is what Buddhismis. It is a path any one can follow and become Buddha! We are all in our hearts Buddha we just
have not realized it

When Buddhists have a statue on their shrine or in their homes it is a symbol or image reminding them that we
can all can awake. To worship the metal or statue or
idol would be a mistake. But to see this as a symbol
or pointer to some truth would be more correct. Sometimes
people use other symbols such as candles, or crystals. These are all symbols.

There is a story in Buddhism that says if a man points to
the moon don't mistake the finger for the moon!

Often Buddha statues are a likeness of Shakyamini but sometimes they are other Buddha figures that the traditions
tell us about. There is Amitabha Buddha for example
who is used in some countries. Amitabha is the Buddha of
compassion who works tirelessly helping beings to
find their nature of their minds.

I wonder what your project is about? If it concerns worshipping
"idols" then I would think an interesting question
would be to understand why people mistakenly believe
that Buddhists or any of the major religions would
worship idols? Im sure if you looked at any religions
thatsymbols  and that no one is really saying worship a piece of metal or stone.

Early christian missionaries who went to asia use to say
that people were worshipping "idols". But this really was
from a point of view of ignorance of a religion far older
and practiced than their own.

there is a poem from this period :
"There is a little yellow idol to the north of Katmandu"

So thanks for yoru question. I think it is good your condering these questions in your school. Do feel free
to write back if you have further questions or thoughts
or want to send anything you write.

Warmest wishes
Bodhicitta