Feng Shui and the Happy Buddha

Recognizable for his smiling face and jolly, round belly, the laughing Buddha can be a welcome addition to Feng Shui home. Known by a variety of names including, Ho Tei, Hotai, laughing Buddha and Happy Buddha, he is thought to be an omen of good fortune, prosperity, and contentment. The laughing Buddha statue is frequently displayed in Chinese homes and you will seldom enter a Chinese restaurant where a happy Buddha statue is not prominently on display. His chubby belly is often touched for “good luck” and is believed to be still good fortune on those seeking prosperity and wealth. many believe that the larger the Buddha's belly, the greater the likelihood of financial success. The smiling face of the happy Buddha will bring positive energy to a room. Feng Shui advisers recommend placing the Buddha in the living room for maximum benefit. The laughing Buddha should be placed toward the main door to the home. Placing the Buddha and his position is believed to harness positive energy while directing misfortune out the door. Don’t put him in the bathroom unless you want to flush your wealth down the toilet! The desk is another area where the laughing Buddha can provide a stress reducing benefit. 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. Home-Based entrepreneurs will enjoy the added benefit of stress reduction and prosperous energy. Many practitioners of Feng Shui will display the laughing Buddha on the dashboard of their car. commuting in heavy traffic can be a stressful exercise. Having the happy Buddha to accompany you can offer solitude and absorb inauspicious 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 a symbol of good fortune and financial success. A laughing Buddha statue holding gold or coins or sitting on a pile of gold coins is the perfect statue to provide the energy of wealth and fortune for a business. Those who observe the methods of Flying Star Feng Shui believe that a brass or bronze Buddha statue offers protection against the sinister influence of the black and yellow stars. The yellow star or ‘disaster star’ is believed to bring about fights, accidents and death. The black star is considered to be the ‘sickness star’ which fills 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 viewed as protection against 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 generate from a certain area in the home that changes yearly. In 2010, the three killings are located in the Northern section of the home. 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 happy Buddha's wide grin and ample girth – the Feng Shui benefit you seek should be achieved.