Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Probably the best thing to do when posting photos is post them as attachments, and please do make sure they are not really large photos.

Greetings,

Blogger won't let the picture be embedded in this post, but this link has a picture I took in the Shrine Room at FWBO HQ in Bethnal Green, London. It's interesting how the facial features on Buddha rupas often in time come to reflect the facial features of the locals.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Cs6nnWpg90/R ... GP0017.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Metta,
Retro.

It's interesting you say that, Retro. Years ago when I visited the FWBO centre on Little Lonsdale St, I remarked that their Buddha rupa had Caucasian features. Turned out it was sculpted by one of their members.

And the sculpture must have been a Stargate fan here when h/she made a Maitreya statue
http://www.meditationinliverpool.org.uk ... reya-2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; compared with http://www.geocities.com/j33photos/phot ... gate_6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If I may be so bold, this is also true of Christian Statuary...I mean, whoever heard of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Hebrew girl?
I think people go with what is familiar.
This is not such a controversial issue in Buddhism, given that we actually really do not have any idea what the Buddha looked like (though of course, knowing what we do about the indigenous inhabitants of the area, we could make a relatively shrewd guess) and that he really wasn't too keen on images being made of him anyway.
As far as I am given to understand.

So, strictly speaking, these images/statues, are not of the Buddha.
They're of our imaginative notion of the Buddha.
They're representative, not figurative.

Greetings,

My humble shrine at home.



Metta,
Retro.

Nice one, Retro!

"Every species creates God in their own image." Star Trek Next Generation

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

My humble shrine at home.

Beautiful!

Is that the Majjhima Nikaya on the altar? What about the Anguttara Nikaya???

Anguttara Nikaya rules.

Greetings TheDhamma,

TheDhamma wrote:Is that the Majjhima Nikaya on the altar? What about the Anguttara Nikaya???

Anguttara Nikaya rules.

Better tell Bhikkhu Bodhi to hurry up with his AN translation then

Metta,
Retro.

retrofuturist wrote: Better tell Bhikkhu Bodhi to hurry up with his AN translation then

PTS has the complete translation of AN in English, but yes, Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation I am sure will be much better.

Greetings TheDhamma,

TheDhamma wrote:PTS has the complete translation of AN in English, but yes, Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation I am sure will be much better.

I plan to order Bhikkhu Bodhi's full AN translation when it comes out. Until then, I'll finish up MN (I'm up to about MN 93) and then venture towards the Wisdom Publications issuing of DN... which presumably I'll drop like a hot potato once I get the AN!

Metta,
Retro.

Nice altar, Retro.

I've been meaning to get a Buddha rupa. Where did you get yours?

Metta,
zavk

Greetings Zavk,

zavk wrote:I've been meaning to get a Buddha rupa. Where did you get yours?

A good Dhamma friend in Thailand sent it my way.

Metta,
Retro.

TheDhamma wrote:

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

My humble shrine at home.

Beautiful!

Is that the Majjhima Nikaya on the altar? What about the Anguttara Nikaya???

Anguttara Nikaya rules.

Personally, I'd opt for the SN on my non-existent altar.

With mnetta,
Sherubtse