The most common pose for a Buddha figurine is meditating in the lotus position. In this pose, Buddha sits with his legs crossed, and his feet on top of his thighs. Sometimes he'll be shown with a lotus flower or a snake. The lotus flower is a symbol of the path a person takes as he grows from the mud of everyday existence toward the beauty of enlightenment. Snakes have a long history in Buddhist tradition, including the idea that snakes have powers similar to those that European traditions assign to dragons.
You will also often see Buddha depicted in the Earth Touching Pose. This is a symbol of Buddhism's connection to Nature. Buddhists don't believe that the earth was created for us to exploit it. Instead we are to recognize that animals are spiritual beings themselves, beings who are on their own path toward their own Enlightenment. The Earth Touching Pose shows Buddha seated in the lotus position, with his right hand touching the ground near his right knee.
The Wish Giving Pose for a Buddha figurine reminds us of Buddha's desire that everyone experience eternal happiness and world peace. Some practitioners believe that Buddha himself can grant wishes. There is no direct Western equivalent for this; the closest parallel in Christianity might be the way that some Catholics will pray to a Saint for help. The Wish Giving Pose shows Buddha with his right hand extended toward you, with his palm turned up toward the sky.
The Blessing Pose expresses a similar idea. Because Buddha can grant wishes, it makes sense that Buddha can bless you. Peace and serenity are the most common blessings that Buddha delivers. But there are many other themes for Buddha's blessings, including health, love, and well-being. The Blessing Pose shows Buddha with his right hand near his chest, with his palm turned to face you.
This leads us to the popular Dispelling Fear Pose. We've seen how good a can deliver blessings and grant wishes. Many people wish to reduce or eliminate their fear, which leads them to turn to Buddha. Most often, the dispelling fear pose shows Buddha standing with one hand raised near his shoulder, palm toward you.
The Teaching Pose recognizes Buddhas legacy as one of the Earth's greatest teachers. Buddha devoted his life to teaching other people the path to Enlightenment. And in this pose, he has his hand near his shoulder, his palm facing you, and his thumb and index finger touching. This is a symbol of Buddhas ability to communicate vital insights.
You will see two different Reclining Buddha poses. In the first, you'll see Buddha on his side with his hand propping up his head. In this pose, Buddha is simply resting.
In the second Reclining Buddha pose, Buddha's bottom hand is near his side. In this pose, Buddha has passed on to Nirvana. Nirvana is the state of being free from suffering. It is one of the central ideas in the concept of Enlightenment.
Most people who acquire only a single Buddha figurine choose one showing Buddha meditating in the lotus position. Many of these Buddha figurines are purchased by people who aren't themselves Buddhist. Instead they are buying the figurine simply for decoration.
People whose Buddhist practice is more focused often acquire multiple Buddha figurines. In those Buddhas households, you'll see Buddha in every room, and often several times in the same room in a variety of poses.
Anne Jackson Hart has studied Buddhism for several years. She retails Buddha Figurines at her site, AnneJacksonHart.com.
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