The Chinese words "Feng" and "Shui" translate to mean “wind” and “water," respectively. This concept is derived from an ancient poem that talks about human life being connected and flowing with the environment around it.
What Is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is essentially the interaction of humans and their environments. It enables you to influence these interacting energies to achieve specific life improvements. This influence is gained by positioning or designing your surroundings in harmony with principles of natural energy flow. Feng Shui reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure health and good fortune for those inhabiting it. These systems of laws for spatial arrangement and orientation are taken into account when people are designing buildings, placing furniture and possessions and even bodies. It offers a unique way of looking at these elements and provides balance, comfort, and harmony into your environment.
Buddha and Feng Shui
Placing a Buddha statue in your home can attract positive chi energy. Peace is a state of mind that is directly linked to the energy of the space we live in. Buddha statues are one of the icons that help to bring in peace and harmony. The question arises, where to keep Buddha statue in the house and why?
Where to Keep Buddha Statue in the House #1: Blessing or Protection Buddha
Keep the blessing Buddha facing the entrance of your home
This pose of Buddha seated with one hand raised in a blessing gesture has two meanings, and they are interrelated. The first is protection where the raised hand acts as a shield to keep out negativity and danger. The second meaning is overcome fear to be at peace with oneself. Being protected helps us overcome fear, which is an emotion that restricts our life.
Where to put these: You can place this form of Buddha facing the main entrance of a home to keep disruptive elements at bay.
Where to Keep Buddha Statue in the House #2: Calling the Earth to Witness or Bhumisparsha Buddha
The Bhumisparsha Buddha should always face the East
This pose of Buddha is by far the most popular and most symbolic as it represents the moment of Buddha’s enlightenment. Gautam Buddha had been meditating for years when the demon Mara tried to tempt and scare him. But Buddha overcame the temptation and touched the ground to summon the Earth Goddess to witness his enlightenment.
Where to put these: This form of Buddha must be kept facing East, where the sun rises. It represents eternal knowledge.
Where to Keep Buddha Statue in the House #3: Reclining or Nirvana Buddha
Ensure that the reclining Buddha faces the West
The reclining or sleeping pose of Buddha is one of the most poignant ones; it depicts the last moments of Gautam Buddha’s mortal life before he achieved Nirvana or freedom from the cycle of rebirth. However, it is not meant to induce gloom; in fact, the reclining Buddha is supposed to be an encouragement to people for seeking internal harmony.
Where to put these: This form of Buddha must always face West to represent his imminent death and should recline to the right.
Where to Keep Buddha Statue in the House #4: Meditating Buddha
Meditating Buddha idols are suited to quiet corners
If its inner peace you seek, the meditative pose of Buddha is for you. In this pose, Buddha is seen sitting with his legs folded, face up and hands lying on the lap. Buddha’s eyes are fully or partially closed as he is deep in meditation.
Where to put these: Meditation Buddha idols can be placed at any quiet corner of the house. Ideally, where you can sit down to meditate or just relax. You can also light candles or incense sticks to create an aura of serenity.