At this moment, when I think of a bronze statue of Buddha, my imagination leads me to remember the six-armed bronze enchanted statue of Kali depicted in the Hollywood movie: “Sinbad’s Golden Voyage, 1974”. Do any of you remember seeing the scene where Sinbad and his team were about to enter the holy altar and then his guardian came to life? A 15-foot-tall, six-armed bronze statue of Kali; where each hand held a sword, dagger, or shield. Wow, I was on the edge of my seat and glued to the TV screen! Well, that’s at least how I’m remembering it now as an adult. It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen that particular movie and where the “facts” about the movie may not be clear, my feelings, enthusiasm and excitement that I felt then, are present now, as if they were yesterday!

What does all this have to do with owning a bronze Buddha statue? Well let me bring it all together. In my research I remember reading Lord Buddha’s teaching on the “empty chair” request. This was his request, that his followers should NOT make images of him, but rather let his teachings and the effects of them be the images of feelings that they had in their hearts and thus be transmitted to each other. It was his wish that they have the “feelings of Love and Compassion” so clearly defined within themselves that no matter what the circumstances or events on the screen of life. In effect, they would be transmitting God’s Universal and Unconditional Love from their personal experience to others with such passion that it didn’t matter if they had the “facts” right. Because the essence of what was truly valuable and uplifting: “that image of remembered feeling”, was preeminent and predominant for all those around him.

It is my opinion that a bronze Buddha statue is a perfect “fact” of contemplation that can help us remember those best moments in our lives when we truly feel unconditionally accepted, loved, appreciated and free. I would like to see devotees and decorators on the edge of their metaphorical seats, reliving these emotions every time they see that bronze statue of Buddha on their coffee table or shrine shelf.