I was just talking to my sister and she said that her dd wants a Budda figure for her birthday. She's very into asian items, I think it stems from her obsession with anime. I guess she really wants it but my sister doesn't feel right about it. She thinks it is disrespectful.

I don't agree. I very well could be wrong though. I've seen many people use Budda figures as decoration. I think as long as she isn't use it in a disrepectful way or deface it, it would be ok.

Any opinions?

My family wasn't Buddhist but we always had one on the fireplace hearth and as a matter of fact ....he is still there!

My father spent a lot of time in various asian countries.

Yes, in a way, he is decoration BUT we respect what he stands for and consider him often and appreciate him greatly.

I would get one for my dd. Buddha IS a remarkable symbol/being.

We bought a little buddha guy and explained it to the kids. I let my 3 yr old walk around with it. I don't think it is disrespectful. It would also depend on what she did it, I suppose...

Target has some nice ones. Ebay too.

As long as she knows the basics of symbolism and who Buddha was I think it's great.

It's a great time to share and teach respect for world religions that are different from family beliefs. :)

My Grandma collected them all her life and I have a jade one of hers. I love it. My Grandma was Jewish and married a Catholic so became Catholic. He was an important spiritual figure for our family even though we were not Buddist. But I am one of those people that takes what works for me spiritually and I am not into organized religion as a whole.

Aphrodite

I don't think there is anything inherently disrespectful about having a buddha as decoration.
There are mass-produced buddhas shipped out from China/Thailand/Japan/etc. for decorative distribution everywhere.
I think most Americans use them as Asian inspired decor.

I don't think it is any more disrespectful than wearing/decorating with a cross or pentacle or angels for that matter. :)

I don't see what would be disrespectful about having one. My dh's friend gave one of those inexpensive little ones to ds for Christmas. The friend explained about Budda being a wonderful, kind and amazing man. We are not Buddhists but dh has one that another friend gave to him and my ds was so excited to have one just like Dad has.:)

Originally posted by Empathic~Heart
As long as she knows the basics of symbolism and who Buddha was I think it's great.

It's a great time to share and teach respect for world religions that are different from family beliefs. :)

That's exactly what I was going to say. :)

I think it is disrespectful. The Buddha is a beautiful piece of artwork in sculpture, but it has a deeper meaning to Buddhists. To trivialize this is disrespectful, IMO.
I used to have two beautiful sand paintings, authentic, signed Hopi ones from Arizona. My husband said we had to put them away because to a Hopi these are used in religious ceremony, and he did not want to trivialize their religious objects.
I guess I feel the same way about an icon. Icons are sued in my faith as sacramentals. For people to have them in their home because of their beauty as art is to miss the most important aspect for which they are made. Of course, this is all just my opinion. In the end, your sister has to decide where she stands.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this child having a buddha statue. Nothing at all. I don't find it disrespectful in the least.... and doubt that the Buddha would mind having a child enjoy, love, and play with a figurine of his likeness. I say use it as a time to teach this child about another faith -- religious tolerance, and respect. Who's to say that this child might not also be feeling spiritually drawn to the Buddha? Hard to say without exploring it further.

The Tibetan Buddhists that I'm friends with would smile and feel happy about it.

Various sects of Buddhism have different feelings onthis topic, btw... I feel that in the end its up to the individual to decide. If you're Christian would you be offended to do the same thing with a Jesus statue? Here's a website from the Buddhist perspective:
http://seasiancrafts.com/spiritworld/buddha.htm#ptobi


Grassaf,

Becca

I don't think it disrespectful.

What you do in the privacy in your own home, you know? Who's gonna know, so who's going to get disrespected?

If you meet Buddha on the road, kill him.:)

I am buddhist and I do not think it is disrespectful.

My mom got a Buddha for Lucy for her 2nd birthday! Actually, a little Buddha and two praying women, also an icon of the Sunday Buddha, since she was born on Sunday. This all came about because "Buddha" was one of the first words Lucy said (even though we are not Buddhist and she probably didn't hear it in the household very much) and I used to take her for walks to the "new-agey" store by our old house and we used to admire the Buddha statues there.

Anyway, even though we are not Buddhist we treat these items with care and respect and a dignified place in our home. It is very inspiring to gaze upon them and contemplate the Buddha and his teachings. I also have a beautiful Virgen de Guadalupe in my room which I have had for many years, and she too is a valuable touchstone for contemplation.

There is another store we go to sometimes which imports very beautiful things from Thailand, including many beautiful Buddhas. Some of them have tags which remind the buyer that this is a religious item and should hold a dignified place in the home. I interpret this to mean that it's ok to use it for decoration, but just maybe not as a hat rack or something.

One important thing to consider is whether she is talking about the so-called "laughing Buddha" (the one with the round belly and bald head), who is really not Buddha but, I believe, a monk, or the actual Buddha such as is seen in Thailand and elsewhere. Either one is fine, but make sure you know what she is thinking of when she says "Buddha".

We have two Buddha's in our home. One on our fireplace mantle and the other is a smaller one of mine that I use sometimes for meditation. I'm not Buddhist....I can't label myself any one religion, but do have much Buddhist belief. I don't see anything wrong with having one as long as it is not thrown into the toy bin or anything like that. I'd hope it (any any religious item) would be treated gently and respected, even if the system it is from is not the family's religion.

That is a interesting comment about the sand paintings. My grandmother (when she died) left me one large sand painting and I already had a smaller one she gave me. They are both hanging up in our family room along with a mayan wooden calendar that I purchased while in Mexico adopting our son. Each has symbolic meaning to me...not on a religious level, but as a cherished and respected item that represents something important to me.

Michelle