Laughing Buddha figurines are very popular and can be found in homes, restaurants and even offices. In Feng Shui, he is regarded as someone who fills your home with positivity and is associated with wealth, success, good health, career, and children. People believe that rubbing his tummy during the day takes away all the financial worries.
Nowadays Laughing Buddha is available in different positions, holding different things, you need to understand these symbols and choose the right one to get the best result.
The Legend behind Laughing Buddha
According to legend Laughing Buddha is based on a Chinese monk who lived over 1000 years ago. He roamed from one village to the other, carrying a cloth sack that had sweets and toys that he distributed amongst children. His jolly smile and protruding belly also gave him the name ‘Happy Buddha’.
Laughing Buddha can be seen carrying different things. Let’s understand these symbols and their importance
Laughing Buddha Holding an Ingot
An ‘ ingot’ is basically an oval-shaped bowl that the Buddha holds in his hands. This signifies wealth and abundance. Place him in the money area of your home to attract wealth energy.
Laughing Buddha Holding a Bowl
The bowl represents a begging bowl that is an essential part of a monk’s life. A bowl has a great significance in a monk’s life because he uses it to beg and fulfills his needs with whatever people put in his bowl. It essentially represents renunciation because a monk gives up his daily pleasures for a higher good that is enlightenment.
In the case of Laughing Buddha, he holds this bowl which is also called the Ru Yi or Bowl of Plenty above his head to attract abundance from the Lord.
Laughing Buddha Holding a Fan
A fan or an Oogi is said to be a wish giving a fan. In olden days the King would wave the fan to tell the common folk that their wish would be granted. The fan represents joy and happiness. The fan is believed to keep all the misfortunes away.
Laughing Buddha with a Sack
The sack represents the traveling Buddha because he went from one place to the other carrying a cotton sack on his shoulders. The sack is associated with treasures. According to the belief, he will collect all your sadness and misfortune, put it in his sack and leave you with abundance and positivity. The sack also represents wealth and good fortune.
Laughing Budding Holding a Ball
The ball symbolizes a wealth ball which is supposed to bring wealth and prosperity to your home or office. Some people believe that the ball represents wisdom. Others also interpret it as ‘peach’ that brings good health and prosperity.
Laughing Buddha Holding Beads
The beads represent meditation which is an essential part of a monk’s life. Some people also relate it to wisdom.
Laughing Buddha Holding a ‘Wu Lou’
A ‘Wu Lou’ or bottle gourd in the Buddha’s hand represents good health and longevity. According to belief Buddha holding a Wu Lou keeps illness at bay.
Laughing Buddha Holding a Stick
The stick represents a travel stick and is believed to protect you from any harm during journeys.
Laughing Buddha Holding Coins
Coins represent wealth. Buddha holding coins in his hand represents wealth and good fortune.
Laughing Buddha Playing with Children
This figure symbolizes positivity and is said to attract good fortune and positive energy to the home.
The Postures of Laughing Buddha
The Laughing Buddha can be seen in different postures. Let’s understand what these postures signify
The Standing Buddha represents ‘The Happy Buddha’ and is said to bring wealth, happiness, and abundance into your home
The Sitting Posture represents love and balance, essential factors for a happy and fulfilling life.
Taking Care of Your Buddha
You take care of your Buddha and he will take away all your worries. He is considered a deity in Buddhism as well as Feng Shui so you need to treat him with respect.
- Never place him on the floor. Place him at the eye level
- Never place him in the kitchen or bathroom. Ideally, he should be placed on a table facing the main door.
- Never place him on the electrical equipment such as TV, Set-top box etc. Don’t surround him with electrical cables.
- His birthday falls on 8th Remembering him on that day and lighting a candle in front of his statue will attract good fortune and tranquillity into your home.
In Feng Shui, Laughing Buddha statues are considered a great cure for financial worries, stress, and tension. He can take away all your worries. Understanding his symbols, his positions will help you to choose the right figure. Just bringing him into your home will not take away your worries, placing him in the right spot and giving him the respect is also important.