"Fire Buddha"

kashi

obviously this is a painting, but I have a statue with what looks like flames behind the buddha's back similar to this, and I always wanted to know what does this fire symbolise?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/3825546560_e9554b60ac.jpg

vinlyn

Although I can't interpret it (I knew once), several of the most famous Buddha images in Thailand have that, such as here: http://www.pbase.com/vinlyn/image/106182280 and http://www.pbase.com/vinlyn/image/122296563 . The first is in Phitsanuloke in the north, the second in Bangkok.

lobster

As far as I am aware it is the flames of conflicted emotions, in particular anger.

The Buddha sits unperturbed.

Flames can also represent the burning of negativity, the sacred flame is not something that burns in the Buddha. Rather it is something extinguished whilst all around samsara flames away . . .

http://library.brown.edu/cds/BuddhistTempleArt/symbols.html
:wave: