Golden Buddha

I’m sitting next to one of many Buddha statues I have in my house. This one is a gold one that I was gifted with a few years ago from a family of a friend, Janet, who passed away. It was one of her collection that sat in her front yard under a tree. I also have an accidental collection of Buddha statues and images that gathered themselves over the years, most of which were given to us. Yes, I think we’re all aware that the image of Buddha has become very familiar “décor” both in interior and exterior spaces even where there’s no relationship to the Buddhist practice.

The image of Buddha must connote calmness or serenity that attracts people. Growing up in Japan, it was a very familiar image for me yet it wasn’t until I started practicing Buddhist meditation in my middle age that gave me meaning. This golden Buddha I’m sitting next to has a mudra (hand gesture), in which his right hand is reaching down. I’m particularly fond of this mudra because it signifies a story of how Buddha reached his enlightenment.

Just like my meditation practice has been a little uncertain (as I wrote about last week), all aspects of life sometimes get a bit, well, “uncertain” despite my well-intended effort. Sometimes I feel confused about what I’m doing — in business and in personal life — and I lose confidence. When Buddha was meditating before he reached his Nirvana, he was fraught with desires, aversions, sluggishness, restlessness, and most significantly doubt. It is said that he reached down to touch the earth to ground himself, and that’s when he was enlightened.

In my life I’ve traversed against the stream in many ways both personally and professionally, and I’ve questioned my decisions so many times. Regardless I kept taking the next steps one at a time despite my doubt. So the Buddha with this mudra always reminds me to trust. It represents unwavering faith. Just like the story of Golden Buddha in Thailand, one day I may discover the confidence and faith that are within me to embrace my “goldness.”