Buddhist Ideas & Gardens – Statues & Pools
Not every Buddhist garden has a statue of Buddha. But many do. Often Buddha statues are linked to lotus flowers.
Statues of Buddha and Lotus Pools
As mentioned earlier, the beautiful lotus flower grows out of muddy water. This resembles the way in which human beings can overcome their confusion and faults and problems and, like Buddha, cultivate their natural wisdom and kindness.
Often Buddha statues are on a base which is shaped as a lotus flower. Sometimes the statue is actually placed in a pool where lotus flowers are growing. Or sometimes the statue is overlooking a pool of lotus plants. Some Buddhist gardens have just a pool of lotus plants and no statues.
The Buddha statue in the photo is on a base shaped as a lotus flower. It is in a pool of water lilies because this is in England where the lotus cannot grow, so Buddhists use water lilies instead, which look very similar.
Buddhist gardens sometimes have statues of other Buddhist teachers as well as Buddha. Quite often these are placed in lotus or water lily pools in the same way. Statues in pools are a common arrangement.
At Samye Ling Tibetan monastery in south Scotland, there is a pool containing a colourful statue of the Buddhist missionary who first brought Buddhism to Tibet. He is shown seated on a multi-coloured lotus flower. A stream of clear water flows through the pool. Close to the statue are ‘prayer flags’, which will soon be explained.
Continue reading: Things which prompt you to make good wishes.