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Why is Buddha portrayed as over weight sometimes? (self.Buddhism)

submitted ago by beebzz

I know little about Buddhism and am trying to learn but this has never come up on anything I have read.

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[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

Hotei is awesome! I love the tales of him wandering around giving candy and toys to children and demanding a penny from the zen monks. There are also some zen stories about him.

Guatama Buddha is the Buddha that first codified a system to eliminating suffering, but there are lots of Buddhas throughout history before and after "The Buddha."

[–]ConsiderTheFollowing 18 points19 points ago

I believe it is confusion with the "Laughing Buddha". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai

[–]JohnGalt3 11 points12 points ago

This, it's not actually Buddha despite people referring to it as such.

[–]martoounsure 9 points10 points ago

As I understand it, "Buddha" means "one who is awake." There have been many of them in history. The one we Westerners incorrectly call "the Buddha" is Siddhartha Gautama.

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

[–]JohnGalt3 2 points3 points ago

I think it depends on the school of Buddhism you subscribe too, but most seem to recognize multiple Buddhas next to Siddhartha Gautaama.

First google hit implied so at least

[–]kcg5unsure 1 point2 points ago

Wasnt he the first. Are we wrong to think of him as the first-to tell the story etc?

[–]sup3theravada 2 points3 points ago

He was the first within recent cosmological history (ie, on our planet). He said he rediscovered the path that other Buddhas before him had discovered.

[–]kcg5unsure 1 point2 points ago

Ahh, I never heard this. Thank you.

[–]notanotherstray 0 points1 point ago

IIRC he was the first that was allowed to "document" it, but there had been other lone Buddhas here before him. Just as there are Buddhas after him. But the next to document it won't be until Maitreya Buddha.

But then I may be mistaken.

[–]bobbaphetseon 1 point2 points ago

It's not Shakyamuni Buddha, AKA Siddhartha Gautama, the "founder" of Buddhism. But he is considered a Buddha by many, specifically Maitreya Buddha.

[–]pinchitonychan 1 point2 points ago

Not the historical buddha. Buddha is anyone who reaches enlightenment, or meets with the buddha mind.

But yes, the fat buddha is Budai.

[–]rujia 2 points3 points ago

yes, and some consider him to be a "Buddha" too, but from a later time period who according to some legends is going to come back when times get really bad (although I think the latter belief isn't as prevalent anymore..?)

I think that an "ideal" of sorts would be a fat man, showing an abundance of food. His fatness probably helps serve to represent in a physical way the satisfaction which matches the mental.

[–]kHaza 4 points5 points ago

Its a Chinese thing as somebody has already said. In Chinese culture, being overweight symbolises big-heartedness.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Affluence too right?

[–]Red_Angry_Bird 4 points5 points ago

Just learned about this in my Global (9) History class. the overweight Buddha is actually the Chinese idea of Buddha, it's name is actually something else (lulz I forgetz.) But most Americans see the overweight, jolly "Buddha" as the real Buddha although it is truly not. We decided that he is more appealing than the skinny, serious Buddha.

You have just been enlightened (see what I did there?!)

[–]geenomike 5 points6 points ago

maybe western peoples subconsciously crave a religious icon that displays outright happiness... something thats often lacking from religious imagery in the west.

[–]WitheredTreenon-affiliated 1 point2 points ago

There are emaciated Buddha's too:

http://www.buddhamuseum.com/bronze-ascetic-shakyamuni_80.html

[–]jazum -3 points-2 points ago

ive wanted to ask this question all weak, but havn

budhism and vegetarianism go hand in hand, never seen a fat vegetarian though

Ive only ever seen fat budhas(actually Ive seen thin ones)

[–]BrianaRMHunsure 16 points17 points ago

I grew up vegetarian due to familial religious beliefs. I know a lot of fat vegetarians. Very many of them lol.

[–]jazum -2 points-1 points ago

what country are you from

in america, most vegitarians are that way do to wanting to be as healthy as they can be, and not wanting to kill animals, but first point first

[–]rvweber 19 points20 points ago

America is full of fat vegetarians. Lots of them.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

Few things used to spike my anger when I was younger than a clinically obese veterinarian with the maximal strength of a small child telling me that I was killing myself by eating a steak.

I'm not for or against vegetarianism, but if you are going to be a spokesman for a healthful lifestyle at least attempt to look the part (this goes to vitamin store workers too damn it!)...

[–]jazum 0 points1 point ago

really? first ive heard of

[–]NorthernExposer 1 point2 points ago

Even Susan Powter was fat as a vegetarian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Powter

[–]BrianaRMHunsure 4 points5 points ago

Canada. I was raised Seventh Day Adventist. Its a construed biblical belief.

[–]rvweber 15 points16 points ago

I'm a vegan and hang around with a lot of vegetarians...MANY are fat. You can eat terrible food and still be a vegetarian.

[–]veltrop -3 points-2 points ago

My own interpretation is about monks that must beg and give lessons to be able to provide for their meals. If he is fat monk then he is very successful at this.

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