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One of the most loved symbols of feng shui is the laughing Buddha. Best recognised for his protruding belly and everlasting smile, the happy Buddha offers a variety of feng shui benefits for your home. Known by a variety of names including, Ho Tei, Hotai, laughing Buddha and happy Buddha, he is a talisman of prosperity, good fortune and contentment. His chubby belly is often rubbed for “good luck” and is thought to grant wishes to those seeking prosperity.
It is believed that the larger the Buddha belly, the more generously the wish will be granted.
The cheerful image of the laughing Buddha will bring positive energy to a room. The Ho Tai Buddha lived over a thousand years ago.
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Baby boon
The happy monk used to carry a sack full of candies for children and seeds of rice for planting. This is why the statues are often shown along with a bag.
Because of his ability to attract children, he can even positively influence fertility and many couples place a picture or statues of the Ho Tai when they are want to have a baby.
Positive vibes
The placement of the Buddha in the living room or family room has the most benefit. Place it towards the main door of the house.
It redirects the misfortune entering your house and channels only the good fortune into the house. It also absorbs all the negative energy and then radiates auspicious energy.
Stress relief
It also acts as a stressbuster by placing it at your desk as it always reminds you of good times.
Those who work at home can enjoy the dual benefits of reduced stress and message of prosperity.
Driving is often a stressful activity and so many people also keep the Buddha on their dashboard so as to absorb the negative energy.
Prosperity
Small business owners should put the laughing Buddha statue on display at their reception as a sign of prosperity and good fortune.
A happy Buddha statue carrying gold ingots or seated on a pile of gold coins offers the most appropriate message of wealth and fortune for a business. All sources describe him as obese, with wrinkled forehead, and a white protruding belly which he left uncovered. Buddhist notions of happiness based on self-mastery and enlightened insight were fused with popular Chinese life-ideals of happiness through material prosperity, thus today the hemp sack may be interpreted as filled with gold, filled with happiness, health, and other aspects of abundance.
Six Buddhas
In feng shui, the six laughing Buddhas are the different representations of the Maitreiya Buddha. They symbolise happiness and are used to attract more joy.
Laughing Buddha of Love is the one sitting in love and compassion position. It is uses to enhance the love and care in the relationships and is advised to be placed either in the relationship corner or the place diagonally opposite to the relationship corner.
Laughing Buddha of Prosperity is holding a Ru-Yi Pot or bowl of plenty up to the universe for receiving abundance. It is set to bring about healthy growth opportunities in one’s life.
Laughing Buddha of Safe Travel is the one on a journey with a hemp sack full of protection.
It is the best to gift these who are going on a long journey or probably are shifting to a distant place.
Laughing Buddha of Happy Home is the one sitting on a large gold ingot representing solid foundation, with a smaller nugget in his hand to give to others. This represents a fatherly figure, who is concerned to make everyone happy in the home. This can be placed anywhere in the house but preferably should be in the living room in any of the diagonal corners.
Spiritual Journey Buddha is dressed for the journey in fine robes, with a fan for understanding and a sack to collect insights. People prefer placing this in the spiritual corner or the pooja rooms of their houses.
Laughing Buddha of Long Life is the one sitting with his fan hat and enjoying the good life!