Hi,
I have quite a large stone statue of Bhudda in my garden , and I think it should be moved to a better spot as it is getting overgrown where he is at present. I've always been unsure of the direction in which to face it. I originally thought it should face west as it is now, but if I moved it to the only suitable place ,he will be facing east.
Does it matter in which direction he should face? I might seem a bit daft but I always like to do things right out of respect.
Kind regards
G.J
...I didn't think Buddha had to be facing a certain way... I think it's only Islamic praying to Mecca that is directionally important - oh and some Feng Shui rules too, but I am sure I will be corrected if I am not right!!
xx
I tend to place things where they feel "right" to me.
I have a laughing buddha in the shop who was the very first item I unpacked, he was originally for sale but I realised that I couldn't sell him so he has become the "shop buddha". We rub his tummy regularly, as do most of our customers and their children, and he seems to like it! I have placed him in a spot in the shop that feels right to me - in the early days he was moved to another spot occasionally to make space for a display, but he never felt right there, and was quickly moved back to his spot - now displays have to fit around him!
I did have someone come in one day who said that they were buddhist and remarked on how I'd put him in the right spot. When I asked why it was right they said that he should either be facing south (which he is) or facing the door (which he is) and that he should be elevated off the floor (which he is). They also told me he should have a piece of silver underneath him (which he now does!). Now whether any of this is true or not I don't know, I just know he still feels as if he's in the "right place"!
I know that this sounds pedantic but "laughing buddhas" aren't actually statues of Lord Buddha, they are a Chinese Monk called Sankhajai.
Buddha statues should face the door so that when visitors come to the house or temple they can pay their respect (wai) first.
I also heard that the buddha statue should be facing the door when placed inside the house .... as for the garden, go with what feels right. When you enter a Buddhist temple in Asia, there are buddha statues facing three different directions.