Best recognized by his protruding belly and ever present grin, 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.
The laughing Buddha statue is a constant fixture in homes across China and you will seldom enter a Chinese restaurant where a happy Buddha statue is not prominently on display. His chubby belly is often rubbed for “good luck” and is thought to grant wishes to those seeking prosperity. It’s 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.
Feng Shui experts suggest that placement of the Buddha in the living room or family room has the most benefit. The laughing Buddha should be placed toward the main door to the home. This is a method that channels good fortune while directing misfortune out the door. This is also a good area to allow the laughing Buddha to absorb negative chi and radiate auspicious energy. Don’t put him in the bathroom unless you want to flush your wealth down the toilet!
Placing the laughing Buddha at your desk is an excellent way to reduce stress. Let the happy Buddha remind you of our need to experience joy and embrace a spirit of contentment and happiness. Stress reduction is a key element of Feng Shui and the placement of a laughing Buddha statue on the desk can offer a positive benefit for the struggling, stressed out student. Those who work at home can enjoy the dual benefit of reduced stress and message of prosperity.
Many practitioners of Feng Shui will display the laughing Buddha on their dashboard. Driving, especially in traffic during a commute, can be a stressful exercise. Having the happy Buddha to accompany you can offer solitude and absorb negative energy. A laughing Buddha seated on a sack statue is perfectly suited to this task.
Small business owners should put the laughing Buddha statue on display in their reception or receiving area as an omen 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.
Those who observe the methods of Flying Star Feng Shui what are omens believe that a brass or bronze Buddha statue can be used to protect against evil influences of the yellow and black stars. The yellow star or ‘disaster star’ is believed to bring about accidents, death and squabbling. The black star is the ‘sickness star’ that infects a home with illness. Flying Star Feng Shui can be a complex method for the Feng Shui novice. It determines the auspicious and inauspicious energy in home or building based on age and orientation.
The laughing Buddha is also seen as one of the antidotes to the Three Killings along with the dragon turtle and the Three Chi Lins. The three killings are ‘accident, financial loss and illness’ that are believed to emanate from a certain area in the home that changes yearly. In 2010, they are located in the North. Next year they will be found in the West.
It’s important to remember that Feng Shui practices are also best filtered through your own personal style and disposition. Placing an object in your home strictly based on the direction or advice of others, is unlikely to offer the benefit you seek. However, if you find a connection with the laughing Buddha’s pleasant smile and jolly disposition – the Feng Shui benefit you desire is likely to be present.