Buddhism

=Sitting Buddha= - Most people, when thinking Buddha, think of a much larger man (picture on left). Many Buddhists do not believe Buddha looks like this, but is actually an extremely lean, and traditional man (picture on right).

Summary
The Sitting Buddha is the symbol for every Buddhist's goal; reaching enlightenment. The Buddhist community looks at it as an idol, as well as a reminder that in order to reach enlightenment, one must lose oneself. The statue represents that sacred day when any Buddhist reaches enlightenment, passes the tests of Mara, and reaches to Goddess of Earth to bring them to the higher power. Thier are also multiple different postures the buddha statue can take. For instance thier is the half-lotus postion commonly seen in Thailand. The full lotus postion which is popular in India, and the so called European style where one hand is meditating, the other is faced palm to the ground and the legs are casual (above left) or sitting in a chair. The picture on the upper left is a mix of the European hands along with the Full/ Half lotus leg postion.

=Lotus Symbol= (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yuan/ho_2007.187.htm)
 * Research

(http://www.antiquesbyzaar.com/photos/357.TA23_Contemporary_Lotus_Symbol_thumb.jpg)

(http://img.alibaba.com/photo/10838902/Oli_Painting_Lotus_Flower.jpg) Summary: The lotus flower is a very important symbol in many different cultures, including Buddhism. It is one of Buddhism's most recognized symbol because it appears in artwork in all different Buddhist cultures. The growth of the flower directly relates to a person's journey towards enlightenment. The roots-stuck deep in the mud-represents how everyone begins in the mud of materialism. As the flower's stem grows through the water, it's symbolic of how people navigate through the waters of experience trying to reach their goal. Finally, one reaches nirvana, just like the stem turns into a beautiful, scented flower that finds the sunlight. When you see pictures of a sitting Buddha, he is almost always sitting on a blossomed lotus flower because the boom represents reaching nirvana.

=Temple at Bodh Gaya= "Bodhi Tree." Online Image. 8 September 2009. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/bodgaya.htm "Seat of Enlightenment: The Diamond Throne." Online Image. 9 September 2009. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/bodgaya.htm "Bodh Gaya" Online Image. 9 September 2009. http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/buddhism/base.htm
 * Research

Bodh Gaya is the temple of enlightenment. The temple was built in about 250 B.C. and after being covered by sand storms, rebuilt in the second century A.D. the repaired in the eleventh century. The Indian Emperor Ashoka is considered the founder. This temple of prayer is located next to a descendant of the Bodhi Tree where it is said that Siddartha Gautama achieved Nirvana. Under the Bodhi Tree, Siddartha Gautama sat and resisted temptations and deeply meditated until he achieved Nirvana. Many other Buddhists from other countries built temples within walking distances of the Bodh Gaya. Many Buddhist followers meditate at Bodh Gaya with the hopes of achieving Nirvana.



=Prayer Wheel= http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/prayer-wheel.htm https://debateasia.wikispaces.com/file/view/Bhutan-Buddhist-prayer-wheel-portrait-babasteve-picture.jpg
 * Research

====The prayer wheel is a symbolic instrument used to send prayers to heaven. It provides a way for people, specifically devotees, to send their prayers to heaven and to God if they can’t read or write. They can summon their sacred texts by spinning the wheel, sending on the prayers. The Buddha was the first to reenact the prayer wheel. It ranges in size and at times several men would have to push it. The round shape of the wheel represents reincarnation because it symbolizes that the soul keeps living, and it makes a cycle that keeps going on until one achieves Moksha. The scrolls were imprinted with mantra and read aloud, and those with scripts wrapped around them were as well. The prayer wheel is meant to be spun clockwise, and spinning it counterclockwise would be the a wrong action if one was a Tibetan Buddhist. The prayer wheel is used by monks, followers of the Buddha, and Buddhist people to pray and to eventually reach enlightenment.====


 * Research