to want a small Buddha in my garden?

[boasting]

I have a small space that needs filling with something interesting... was thinking a Buddha but has anyone else got a better idea?

It's your garden, why would that be unreasonable?

I recently saw this at a garden centre and thought it was very pretty. I would prefer that to a Buddha if it were me!

Honestly?

It’s a bit lame if you’re not a Buddhist (and probably if you are.)

Like having “Love” in 3D letters on your mantelpiece.

Unless you're a Buddhist I think it's a bit vacuous tbh.

If you buy the peacock please make sure that you rust proof it.

I can't think of any good reason why not, if you like it.

There are alternative of course (though preferably not cutesy animals) ... a picture of the space would allow for appropriate suggestions perhaps?

I have a (not so small) Buddha in my garden, you don't have to be Buddhist but it does give a sense of calm. I tend towards a spiritual way of life anyway and find it peaceful. However I also have them around the house too.

If it gives you pleasure to look at, there is no reason not to have what you want.

I have this guy in my garden. I rather love him. He was from our local garden centre and they haven't had them in since as I'd love another.

Not sure. I look at a DIY gardening group in FB, and have seen so many of them recently that I've been put off.

An mini Easter island head would be my choice but I do love the Tiki statues !
My dad has a large chrome globe in the middle of his garden , looks super cool

*A mini Easter island head ..
I fucking hate auto correct!

Mine is about 20 years old and has been in several gardens over the years as we have moved house. He wasn't chosen as an ornament to fill a space though.

As Minesacider said, they are just another ornament these days, and have lost their meaning, except to those that care about what they represent.

I have other ornaments, animals, birds. I once saw a very large ball with a cherub on the top in a pub garden and it was just right, sitting in the middle of the grass. Not something I would have bought but it belonged there.

You need to choose something you can live with and if it is special then that is good.

I've got a Buddha in my garden to give a sense of peace and because I like it.

I know 3 Buddhists - the only Buddhist who commented negatively about my garden Buddha was a Sri Lankan doctor I dated who then turned out to be married so I hope Karma bites him in the butt.

YANBU. Here's ours. We like him! I wouldn't call myself a Buddhist, but kind of have Buddhist leanings . I also have a small Buddha figure in my bedroom, but I inherited him from my grandmother because I'd always liked him as a child.

Having been to some beautiful buddhist temples in the far east, I know that buddhists are not impressed that the image of Buddha is used as decoration. They are particularly fervent that it should not be used as a tattoo, but they also do not want it used for decoration anywhere. The images in temples are there for religious reasons.

Came to say the same @backinthebox

I’m in a bind though as the previous owners of our house left a Buddha statue behind. I don’t want it as I think it’s disrespectful, but it would be worse to throw it in the bin so we’ve left it be

OP, where abouts are you in the country? Fancy rehoming ours?

pangeasculptures.com

Please don't do this, it's considered very disrespectful for a number of reasons. There is lots of information here about why: www.knowingbuddha.org/home-en (this is the website of a Buddhist organisation that displays posters at Arrivals in airports in Thailand to try and educate tourists).

I have a small wooden Buddha on a shelf in our living room, which, like someone else on here, gives me a sense of peace. I bought it at a fair trade fair, it was on a table of hand carved similar items, and all the profits were going to a charity in the country of origin, like the other craft tables. Really can't feel guilty about liking it.

Just to add, there are degrees of Buddhism and while I wouldn't describe myself as Buddhist it is as close as I will ever get to any belief, which is probably why I am drawn to the figures.

I have known a couple of Buddhists, one went to meetings and was quite strict, if that is the right word. The other is a good friend and was around a lot at the time I got my garden Buddha, he doesn't make a thing of it, he just lives his life, doesn't eat animals, or kill them, and sometimes goes to a retreat. It was seeing how peaceful his life was that encouraged me to get the statue.

You may know a Buddhist who didn't have a problem with it (or at least told you they didn't) but it's not sensitive or necessary to use religious artefacts as decorations, particular if this involves putting them on the ground or leaving them outside to get dirty. This is another Buddhist website that tries to educate people on the issue: www.5000s.org/home-en

OP, how about an elephant statue? (An actual elephant, not Ganesha!).

Or a flamingo...?

Think yourself lucky, my wife has seen one of the Queen, I think she's tempted, it'll look naff!!!

That's just one organisation though, StatementKnickers. A quick Google seems to indicate that isn't necessarily a common view among Buddhists. Many seem to think there should be no objection unless you are displaying an image of Buddha on something inappropriate or in a disrespectful fashion. It might be worse if Buddha had been a god, but he was a man.

So tacky.