Fat Monk
The story of the Fat Monk is interesting. It originated from China and is supposed to be the future Maitreya Buddha.
The story goes that a young handsome man took the percepts and became a monk but because he is so handsome even being hairless and clean shaven he was still good looking. So ladies came to the temple just to take a look at the handsome monk. This became a hindrance as people were more attracted to his form than the Dharma.
Instead he forgo his appearance and grew fat wandering about. Ladies were no longer attracted to this fat monk. Whenever Fat Monk comes to the village people observed that they can know the weather by the way he wears his grass slippers.
After sometime the villagers didn’t see fat monk they went to the place where he stay and found some inscription mentioning Maitreya was here.
Now if you have in mind that the coming Buddha will be a fat monk then you will probably miss the last bus because the next Buddha will have the full 32 physical marks and wil be just as handsome as the last one.
(The above is from Wong Tho Kong written on my facebook wall. I’m sharing with everyone here. Interesting. )
further explanation:
The Fat Buddha is thought to be based on a historical figure, a Chinese Zen Buddhist monk named Qieci who lived over 1,000 years ago during the later Liang Dynasty. In China he became known as Budai, meaning cloth bag, named after the sack he always carried. In Japanese this is translated as Hotei. He was a benevolent man who dedicated his life to helping others, and is portrayed as a fat, bald man in monks clothing, with a large exposed belly, and either wearing or holding a necklace of beads. This necklace is a Mala, a Buddhist string of prayer beads.
Fat Buddha statues are popular as a symbol of health, happiness, prosperity and good fortune. These statues take a number of forms, and can convey different meanings depending on the symbolic meaning of the various objects he is holding.
He is often seen with a large sack. This is the sack of blessings. It contains many treasures which he distributes freely. The sack represents wealth, and the fulfillment of wishes. The Ru-Yi or bowl of plenty signifies abundance and wealth. Budai holds the bowl above his head to receive abundance from the heavens. The parasol gives protection by deflecting misfortune. The wish-giving fan symbolizes happiness. Budai waves the fan to banish troubles. The Wu-Lou gourd, or gourd of enlightenment contains the elixir of youth for long life. The wealth ball is thought to represent a pearl. It is a symbol of the greatest treasure of all, wisdom.
(from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fat-Buddha-Statue-Meanings&id=4569077 )
Very nice! I have a Fat Buddha statue at home as well. =)
This is indeed a very interesting account of the Chinese Buddha Maitreya. I didn’t know his story was so similar to that of the Arhat Phra Sangkachai that lived during the Buddha’s time. I visited a Thai temple in Ayuthaya (Thailand) 2 years ago and the guide at that time told of his story when I asked who is he. Meanwhile, I did a search on Qiexi and found Phra Sangkachai’s story. They are not to be confused with each other…
“In Thailand, Budai is sometimes confused with another similar monk widely respected in Thailand, Phra Sangkajai or Sangkachai (Thai: พระสังกัจจายน์). Phra Sangkajai, a Thai spelling of Mahakaccayanathera (Thai: มหากัจจายนเถระ), was a Buddhist Arhat (in Sanskrit) or Arahant (in Pali) during the time of the Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha praised Phra Sangkadchai for his excellence in explaining sophisticated dharma (or dhamma) in an easily and correctly understandable manner. Phra Sangkajai also composed the Madhupinadika Sutra.
One tale relates that he was so handsome that once even a man wanted him for a wife. To avoid a similar situation, Phra Sangkadchai decided to transform himself into a fat monk. Another tale says he was so attractive that angels and men often compared him with the Buddha. He considered this inappropriate, so disguised himself in an unpleasantly fat body.
Although both Budai and Phra Sangkajai may be found in both Thai and Chinese temples, Phra Sangkajai is found more often in Thai temples, and Budai in Chinese temples.”
This account can be found here – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai
I think Lama Marpa (Guru of Milarepa) was fat also.
Whatever the case, it is a relief to know that it’s o.k. to be fat(heheh)- appearance is not as important as a kind heart!
Dear Rinpoche
I saw the comment thread in Facebook. Interesting! What do I care if the Buddha is fat, thin, green, black, have 32 marks or 31 marks, or even 80 marks. It’s the quality within that I care about.
Thank you for sharing this. I have been very concern about your health due to the recent weight gain, but I did not dare to voice it. When you stated that you can keep healthy with Tantric method. I am very much relieved.
One account from my memory about the Fat Monk above, my parents used to take me to the temple as a kid. I liked to make donation to the donation box in front of the Fat Monk statue. One day, when I was at a temple, and I put my hand in my pocket and realized that I only had IDR 300. I donated it all. On the way home my mom gave me IDR 30,000 (a very big amount for me at the time). That was my first encounter and realization that karma do exist.
Much love
Valentina
I love the Laughing Buddha! Makes me smile even when i’m PMSing… haha!
Will donate my comic to KH library for the kiddies to read =) I’m sure they’ll enjoy reading about the Fat Monk
Thanks for the sahring Rinpoche.
I have 2 grand daughter’s who are always on diet, or should say 14 yr.just does not eat. Her clothes look great on her, but she looks terrible. I feel sorry for persons when their consent concern is their weight, in a land of plenty they choose to starve!!! There must be some karma for that? When will they learn moderation and learn caring for others beings takes their mind from themselves. Plus if people really care for you, to them it really doesen’t matter what size you are.
I used to have a fat Buddha statue when I was at a very young age, made of pure white simmering porcelian. Like the blog said, fat Buddha statues are symbols of popularity for happiness, good health and prosperity, especially to the more older chinese community for longevity! Buddha statues are also commonly known to be embodiment of love, wisdom and compassion of the enlightened beings. Therefore, by the making and/or creating the cause for such statues to be made, not only help oneself, but many others to accumulate lots of good merits too. Buddha statues and paintings have stood and survived the test of time in-memorial to become the most effective media to promote Buddhism throughout the World. Their exquisite beauty, charm and attractiveness are both Universal and personal. They represent a window of one’s religous belief of peace and purity, besides being revered as beautiful Art forms.
The image of the Laughing Buddha is often used as a Feng Shui enhancement tool said to bring wealth & prosperity. They advise to rub his prosperous belly to get seriously rich. Thought it was so easy so I have a nice statue bought in China which I placed at the “wealth corner” & which I rubbed furiously for so many years but never got rich!! Ha, the books must be wrong or I must have rubbed him the wrong way, LOL!
i love this work so much it reminds me of the skinny monk
tetsumonkai from the hills of japan and his friends
many from the school of kookai
we are fortunate we can still
see tetsumonkai today
if we can find a
way to scale
the summitt
where he
rests
silently
andrew hibberd
ps im student and students job is to listen hard study well all things and report findings
they say sometimes its wise to say nothing and sit in a cave
and contemplate, i come out of my cave, 48 years on my knees
taught to prey at the foot of my bed god bless
mummy and daddy and god let me wake up in
the morning, what a great lesson
thanks mum i love you so much
im starting to wake up
and my true wish is
waking