Page 1 of 3 Buddha Images for 7 days of the week

Theravada Buddhism is the professed religion of more than 90 percent of all Thais and casts strong influences on daily life. Buddhism first appeared in Thailand during the 3rd Century BC at Nakhon Pathom, site of the world’s tallest Buddhist monument, after the Indian Buddhist Emperor Asoka (267 – 227 BC) dispatched missionaries to Southeast Asia to propagate the newly established faith

Buddha Image for Sunday In Pensive Thought. The enlightened Buddha stands with hands crossed over his abdomen (right hand over the left). The Buddha contemplates his achievement of complete knowledge under the Bodhi tree. After enlightenment, the Buddha stood still for seven days under the Bodhi Tree to contemplate the suffering of all living things. He was tempted to enter Nirvana at once (By Mara), but he wants others to know the true doctrine, and resolves to communicate his doctrine to others.

Buddha Image for Monday Preventing Calamities (This Image is Similar as the Image for 'Stopping the relatives from fighting'). The city of Vesali was tormented by three evils : poverty, cholera and

devils. Devils were roaming the city feasting on dead bodies and even people. The King of Vesali was advised to seek the help of the Buddha.

The Buddha stops the relatives from fighting or pacifying his relatives. When the Buddha came

back from Heaven, he found that his relatives were quarreling about the right to use water from a river for their rice fields. The Buddha encouraged them to compromise and said that human life is

much more valuable than water and it was not worth killing men for water. Then, his relatives stopped fighting.

Buddha Image for Tuesday

Reclining Buddha - Left arm along the body, right arm serves as a pillow with the hand supporting the head. Story : The giant Asurindarahu wanted to see the Buddha, but was reluctant to bow before him. The Buddha, while lying down, presented himself as much larger than the giant. He then showed him the realm of heaven with heavenly figures all larger than the giant. After all this, Asurindarahu, the giant, was

humbled, and made his obeisance to the Buddha before leaving. Image at Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon Pathom province. The reclining Buddha represents the passage to Nirvana or a resting Buddha. The gesture represents complete peace and detachment from the world. It was believed that the Buddha entered Nirvana on this day of the week. Buddhism - besides moulding morality, providing social cohesion and offering spiritual support, Buddhism

has provided incomparable artistic impetus. In common with medieval European cathedrals, Thailand’s innumerable multi-roofed temples have inspired major artistic creations. Another reason for Buddhism’s strength is that there are few Thai Buddhist families in which at least one male member has not studied the Buddha’s teachings in a temple. It has long been a custom for Buddhist males over the age of 20, at one time in their life, to

be ordained for a period ranging from five days to three months. This usually occurs during the annual Rains Retreat, a three-month period during the rainy season when all monks forego travel and remain within their temple. Besides sustaining monastic communities, Thai temples have traditionally served other purposes – as the village hostelry, village news, employment and information agency, school, hospital, dispensary and community centre – which give them vital roles in Thai society.

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Buddha Image for Wednesday Morning Holding an alms bowl. The Buddha is standing with both hands around an alms bowl. This symbolizes the first morning. The Buddha holds an alms bowl. The Buddha visited his family after four years in the monastery. His father was not content when he saw the Buddha “begged” for food holding an alms bowl. Buddha explained to his father that performing pindabat, or holding an alms bow are the lineage of Buddha. Thus, the disciples can devote their food. The virtue of giving amongst Buddhists is strong until today.

Buddha Image for Wednesday Evening Retreat in the Forest.

Buddha spent the rain retreat on his own in the Palilayaka (Palelai) forest because he was tired of the monks of Kosambi who had split into two groups and were not in harmony. While

in the forest, the elephant Palilayaka attended to him, and monkey offered him a beehive.

Buddha Image for Thursday Meditating Sitting in the yoga posture. Note the right leg on top of the left, the right hand on top of the left hand. The Bodhisattva makes a vow and is determined not the leave the spot (where he is sitting on the grass) until he achieves enlightenment. The Boddhisattva determines to find the cause of suffering and its cessation. The Buddha is in meditation. This is the perfect mental discipline. The gesture is the ultimate balance of tranquility and thoughts. It is believed that the body in the position is receptive to power or energy to enter the body from the top of the head and the opening palms.

Buddha Image for Friday In Reflection (Deeply Thinking)

Hands are crossed across the chest, right hand in front of the left. The Buddha (at the Banyan tree), wonders how he can explain the cause of all suffering to others.

The Buddha is in contemplation of how he can teach the Dharma to others. The posture represents a complete spiritual transformation.

Buddha Image for Saturday Sitting in meditation, protected by Mucalinda's cobra hood. (Mucalinda is King of the Naga) The Buddha is in meditation and protected from a storm by Maculinda, the King of the Naga. The image is related to the moment when a naga spreaded its hood to protect the Buddha from a rainstorm while he was in profound meditation.   

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To Understand Thai is to understand Buddhism The origin of many facets, attributable to the behavior of Thai, is the country's dominant religion. Many Buddhists believe that your current life is influenced by the amount of good deeds from a previous life and thus your next life

will be influenced by how you behave in this current life. It is a peaceful religion that discourages extremism.

Thai put GREAT emphasis on the middle ground and the right of all people to live their life as they think best.

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Buddhist Quote of the Moment Whenever there is attachment in my mind

And whenever there is the desire to be angry, I should not do anything nor say anything,

But remain like a piece of wood.

Whenever I have distracted thoughts, the wish to verbally belittle others, Feelings of self-importance and self-satisfaction;

When I have the intention to describe the faults of others, Pretension and the thoughts to deceive others;

Whenever I am eager for praise

Or have the desire to blame others; Whenever I have the wish to speak harshly and cause dispute;

At (all) such times I should remain like a piece of wood.

Whenever I desire material gain, honor, or fame; Whenever I seek attendants or a circle of friends,

And when in my mind I wish to be served; At (all) these times I should remain like a piece of wood.

Whenever I have the wish to decrease or to stop working for others

And the desire to pursue my welfare alone...

Whenever I have impatience, laziness, cowardice, Shamelessness or the desire to talk nonsense;

If thoughts of partiality arise, At these times too I should remain like a piece of wood.

Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life