Gautama Buddha or "The Buddha" was never fat according to the Pali canons (Digha Nikaya), he was described as being athletically fit his entire life, about 6'1" tall, possessing a strong build, athletic, etc....so what happened that caused him to be depicted as fat????

His fat stomach, symbolizes the largeness of his soul. It is also a symbol of happiness, luck, and generosity.

...You asked

Mickey Mouse has changed shape and features over the years - ditto Buddha.

Sorry - should have added: this is a form of cultural variation linked to aesthetics. I have a slim Buddha - probably his hemp period.

Fat Buddha symbolises hapiness. There are loads of Buddha depictions.

besides a fat buddha is more stable when you jab a couple of essence sticks in his skull

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai

Gautama Buddha or "The Buddha" was never fat according to the Pali canons (Digha Nikaya), he was described as being athletically fit his entire life, about 6'1" tall, possessing a strong build, athletic, etc....so what happened that caused him to be depicted as fat????

the fat buddha may not be Gautama Buddha.

ok...but does anyone really know where that idea originated? Most people today probably think that Gautama Buddha or the founder of Buddhism "The Buddha" was a fat bald guy....

That's not Buddha, it's Hotei.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotei

Fat Buddha is depiction of fullness, satisfaction within a spiritual being, its not to be taken on face value.


Thanks

Fatt men are sexy, even Budda has to get laid (layed??)

Fatt men are sexy, even Budda has to get laid (layed??)

Buddha conquered desire.

things change!

look at santa...he used to be green!

Changes in morphology of material fetish can be mapped and indexed against cultural trends.

...over the years, Jesus has been depicted as White, Brown and Black...History is by those who write it....

Besides in early buddhism it was not practiced to depict Gautama Buddha in any way, because he was beyond material form, so no-one really knows how his body looked like.

The fat guy is actually a different incarnation of Buddha than the Siddhartha Gautama of history. Some Buddhists believe that, in the distant future, Buddha will come back to earth in this form (known by the name Maitreya) as a messiah of sorts. He is supposed to bring with him a new era of happiness and enlightenment, which is presumably what his big gut and smiley face is meant to represent.

Besides in early buddhism it was not practiced to depict Gautama Buddha in any way, because he was beyond material form, so no-one really knows how his body looked like.
Do you have any links or references about this? I know Buddhism art started late....but in the pali canons it describes Gautama Buddha's physical characteristics in detail......

Sorry, poor choice of words, by depiction I ment art - visual depiction.
Don't have a link, I think I read that in "Oriental Mythology" by Joseph Campbell, but I am not sure, it might have been some other book.

I am in concurrence with Embee. Buddhist prophesy has it that at some point in the future, the perfected, enlightened Buddha will return to Earth, fat, happy, and surrounded by children.

Also with several people who have posted here, eastern culture equates a big belly with compassion, the same way we do with the heart. Having a big heart in the west means you are compassionate, in the east, having a big belly means you are compassionate or good. Minor piece of symbolism.

The idea that Buddha's intention is to return to Earth like Jesus is a perversion of Buddhism. Buddhism wanted you to become a Buddha. Actually, Jesus didn't want worship and adoration either, he also wanted you to stop being lazy and take control over your own spiritual practice.

Most statue depictions of Buddha in India have him slim and proportional, and with adequate hair.

I am in concurrence with Embee. Buddhist prophesy has it that at some point in the future, the perfected, enlightened Buddha will return to Earth, fat, happy, and surrounded by children.

Also with several people who have posted here, eastern culture equates a big belly with compassion, the same way we do with the heart. Having a big heart in the west means you are compassionate, in the east, having a big belly means you are compassionate or good. Minor piece of symbolism.
Where does it say that The next Buddha will be fat in the Buddhist scripture...I've read a lot about Maitreya but nothing about him being fat...

The idea that Buddha's intention is to return to Earth like Jesus is a perversion of Buddhism. Buddhism wanted you to become a Buddha. Actually, Jesus didn't want worship and adoration either, he also wanted you to stop being lazy and take control over your own spiritual practice.
It doesn't say that Gautama Buddha will return to Earth again, it says another Buddha will come to Earth, another perfectly self-awakened one, but I agree with everything else you said, The Buddha wanted us to attain a nature like his own, become a Buddha (or Siddha in Hinduism)

"And the Blessed One said to Ananda, I am not the first Buddha, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened one, endowed with wisdom, auspicious, embracing the Universe, an incomparable Leader of Men, a Ruler of Devas and mortals. He will reveal to you the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will establish His Law, glorious in its spirit and in the letter. He will proclaim a righteous life wholly perfect and pure, such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands while mine number many hundreds."

Most statue depictions of Buddha in India have him slim and proportional, and with adequate hair.
Yeah, they depict him the way he was known to look in reality....then he changed in China...

Data ->Information ->Knowledge ->Wisdom ->Enlightenment (Buddha)

Long way to go....

Since when did Satan have horns?

Data ->Information ->Knowledge ->Wisdom ->Enlightenment (Buddha)



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wrong;
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xxxx ---> xxx---> xxx-->xxx-->xxx--> is only worldly, ergo temporary, what makes you think that enlightenment is connected to only ephemeral objects such as those which are only bound to this world. If you blv in Brahm philosophy (i think your a follower of sanatan dharm) you shouldnt be even thinking in those terms ...

regards,
Rick

Zion,

1. Gautam sees the old, the sick, the suferring, the dead (data)
2. He realises every family, every individual is undergoing these things (info)
3. He realises that it 'seems' unavoidable in life (knowledge)
4. He realises that there should be someway to avoid if he finds the root cause of the suffering (wisdom)
5. He finds out the way to get out of the recurring process. (enlightment)

without understanding the ephemeral things , finding a way out is not possible, imo.

************************************************** ****
wrong;
************************************************** ****
xxxx ---> xxx---> xxx-->xxx-->xxx--> is only worldly, ergo temporary, what makes you think that enlightenment is connected to only ephemeral objects such as those which are only bound to this world. If you blv in Brahm philosophy (i think your a follower of sanatan dharm) you shouldnt be even thinking in those terms ...

regards,
Rick

Yeah I agree someone can attain enlightenment without knowledge, wisdom, austerities, or anything

Buddha.

Everneo,

you"re still not following my rebuttal, i guess, my expressions were'nt that clear, my apologies for that.

My thought was more in lines of the sentence spoken wholistically. It was contradictory to Brahm (what westerners know as Brahman, which btw is wrong pronouncitation to be clear) or absolute truth ... i"ll not get into details here but i think KM understands the point very well...

My intention is not to get into refusal to believe in your thought, your thoughts are more lined towards what Gautam went through (well, he was Siddarth) ...i agree with that line of thought ... thanks for clarifying.


Rick

My apologies for any discrepancies I may have posted here, I have not focused specifically on buddhism in any of my many and random studies (studies is the wrong word, it's more of a hobby, but whatever...)

As far as achieving enlightenment and 'escaping suffering', why must one elevate themselves above said suffering to escape from it? The way Taoism sees it (that's me ;) ), that suffering is a natural part of life, and it's not absolute, it's the way you take it, address it, and move past it that makes it "suffering".

As far as the return of a Buddha, I think many countless numbers of people have become said Buddha, they're everywhere, they walk amongst us as we speak, it's just that none of them have been led to the path of stepping up to a position of leadership.