Amitabha or Sakyamuni statue

[Jacksin]

Hey,

I'm not sure if the Buddha statue I have at home, that I use for a shrine is Sakyamuni or Amitabha. When I bought it I didn't really know the differences between them, it was also made in Vietnam if that helps (I know Vietnam is predominately Pure Land).

I would of rather had a Sakyamuni statue (unless it is), but I figure as long as you have a Buddha statue even if it's not Sakyamuni it is fine. Plus I really like it as it's a nice statue, either way I would still use it.

I'm just curious.

Thanks!

[DNS]

It's Amitabha, but if you like it, so what? It's all good, looks like Buddha. For you, it can represent Buddha.

The robe on both shoulders and the hands forming 2 circles is the indication it is Amitabha. At least it is not Hotei -- I have seen some people, even Buddhists mistakenly consider Hotei (the fat guy) as the Buddha (Sakyamuni).

[pilgrim]

The robes on both shoulders also appear in Theravada iconography (e.g style of Sarnath Buddha), but the mudra is almost always associated with the Japanese depiction of Amida Buddha.

[Jacksin]

Hey David/Pilgrim thanks for replying,

I figured it was Amitabha, but yeah it's still a good representation.

I have no problem with Amitabha, although I have a distaste for that fat Hotei.

Yeah, it bothers me when people think he was The Buddha. Especially when they say things like "Isn't Buddha fat with a big belly".....no.

My next door neighbor actually has a Hotei on the lawn, purely for decoration (there not Buddhists). Every time I see it I think...ughh.

Thanks again!

[Mojo]

I don't mind when people refer to Hotei as the Buddha. It creates an opportunity to teach people a little about Buddhism without seeming proselytical. Anyways, Hotei is an incarnation of Metteyya, the next Buddha, according to prophecy. So, to call him Buddha isn't that far off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya

[pilgrim]

I don't mind when people refer to Hotei as the Buddha. It creates an opportunity to teach people a little about Buddhism without seeming proselytical. Anyways, Hotei is an incarnation of Metteyya, the next Buddha, according to prophecy. So, to call him Buddha isn't that far off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya

That's not really the case. Hotei does not appear in the texts of the 3 Buddhist schools. He is a mythological figure believed to have lived in China many years ago and because of his jolliness and kindness was made out by far eastern Buddhists to be an incarnation of Maitreya, even though this contradicts the texts. As Maitreya is supposed to be a deva in tushita heaven, so technically, he would need to die and be reborn as Hotei.

[DNS]

According to the Theravada tradition, Metteyya (Maitreya) is in the Tusita realm and remains there until he is reborn as the next Buddha here on earth. So it cannot be Hotei (according to Theravada).

However, Hotei may still have been an enlightened monk or at least a good monk (although it is not clear if he even existed, historically).

[Kare]

Don't worry. Nobody made any statue or picture of the Buddha until several hundred years after his death. This means that all statues, no matter if they are called Buddha, Shakyamuni, Amitabha or whatever, are products of artistic imagination. If you like the statue and feel that it is inspirational for your practice, by all means keep it and use it. But do not attach yourself too strongly to it. It is not the real thing.

[Lazy_eye]

Those Greco-Buddhist ones are mighty cool!