Expert: Justin Choo - 6/15/2007

Question
What does each of the different poses of the Buddha's mean? What is the difference between the happy  large Budda and the more serious looking Buddha's mean.

Thank You Peter

Answer
Hi Peter,

Thank you for asking me.

Please do a google search on "Buddha postures - meaning" and you can go through the various web sites relating to the topic.  

Here is a short description.  
There are three main postures; standing, sitting, and reclining.
The sitting posture has five main hand gestures, or mudra.  They are:
1. Both hands on top of each other on the lap----Meditation
2. Right hand raised with palm facing out....Protection
3. Both hands infront of chest in preaching gesture..Preaching
4. Right hand pointing down palm facing in....calling the earth to witness his enlightenment.
5. Right hand pointing down with palm facing outward...Blessing

The standing posture also dpict the above mudras, with a more popular version where one hand holding a bowl and the other pointing down with palm facing out....Blessing

The reclining Buddha depicts the scene of the Buddha's passing away.

The "happy large Buddha" is actually a Chinese depiction of the next future Buddha, Maitreya Buddha.  The Chinese have a wonderful sense of imagination and humour to boot.  It is supposed to be a happy occasion; hence the generous proportion and a hearty laugh!!

The "more serious Buddha" actually exerts a serene depiction of the historical Buddha.

Having explained that, I am sure you are aware that the Buddha images are mere depictions and nothing else.  Buddhists pay homage and reverence to these images as a mark of rspect to the Buddha.  They do not pray to the Buddha images.

Smile from justinchoo :-)