Spring Temple Buddha

Neato.

Neato.

Nice find

Why are the swastikas turning the wrong way, the shamanic way?

Taiwan is beautiful. Hooray for Taiwan!

It is a statue of Vairocana Buddha

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

This is nice. There's a plan in the works to build a 500ft/152m bronze Maitreya statue in India.

http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/index.html

How beautiful...I think we should organize a NewBuddhist.com retreat and pay it a visit.

Nice find Bekenze, I have never been to Taiwan, but have a friend there so I maybe should go and see this amazing construction one day.

Dakini said:

Why are the swastikas turning the wrong way, the shamanic way?

They're not the wrong way round, necessarily... it just depends on culture and usage....

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

This is in Henan, China... why is everyone talking about Taiwan?

Thanks for clearing that up.

Wouldn't want anyone to take a trip to Taiwan, only to realize there's "only" a 72m Maitreya Buddha statue :P



http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/biggest-buddhas-on-earth/17118?image=11

Beautiful.

My understanding may be flummoxed, but the big-bellied personage referred to as Maitreya is a folkloric figure sometimes referred to as an incarnation of Maitreya. The fat guy is Hotei, a bodhisattva often associated with Maitreya.

Maitreya, by contrast, is most frequently depicted as seated. "Maitreya is typically pictured seated, with either both feet on the ground or crossed at the ankles, on a throne, waiting for his time. He is dressed in the clothes of either a Bhiksu or Indian royalty." (Wikipedia)

Reading the confusing and possibly confused descriptions on Wikipedia, I guess the commingling of Hotei and Maitreya is so widespread that trying to make a distinction is an uphill battle that no one really needs to fight.

You wanna call it "Hotei?" Fine.
You wanna call it "Maitreya?" Fine.
Actualize the good news. Don't worry about the messenger. :)

I love this place...so much good info...That was a great video, thank you!

genkaku said:

Reading the confusing and possibly confused descriptions on Wikipedia, I guess the commingling of Hotei and Maitreya is so widespread that trying to make a distinction is an uphill battle that no one really needs to fight.

You wanna call it "Hotei?" Fine.
You wanna call it "Maitreya?" Fine.
Actualize the good news. Don't worry about the messenger. :)

Yeah basically. I just called it Maitreya because that's what that particular statue is known as (in English anyway).