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Buddhists usually place figures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on their altars. Bowing and offering incense at these altars expresses both the recognition of the sublime spiritual qualities shown by these statues and the aspiration to manifest these same qualities within ourselves.

Buddha statue on main altar in the
Buddha Hall at Shasta Abbey.
How to Look at a Buddha Statue
When you look at the statue, what does it imply to you?
Does stone move? No, it is still.
Does the hand move? No, it is still.
And do the feet move? No, they are still.
Are the eyes on one place? Yes, the eyes are on one place.
And is the center of the stone still? Yes, it is still.
This is how to look at a Buddha statue — how to meditate — how you must become — STILL.
Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett
Shakyamuni Buddha "The Sage of the Shakya Clan," the founder of Buddhism, was born in 623 BC as the Indian Prince Siddhartha, who renounced the world at the age of 29 to become a monk. After six years of arduous effort, He discovered the Middle Way of training, leading to His experience of Great Awakening. Within this experience He discovered the Four Noble Truths; He continued to teach until His entry into Eternal Meditation with His death at the age of 80. |
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| Amitabha Buddha "The Buddha of Infinite Light who resides in the Pure Land in the Western Heaven. In the Pure Land tradition one calls upon Amitabha as the primary devotional practice. |
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| Bhaisajya-guru "The Medicine Buddha," also known as "The Lapis Lazuli Radiant One." Bhaisajya-guru helps show us how to treat our spiritual illnesses by means of our willingness to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sanghga. |
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| Prajnaparamita "The Great Wisdom or Wise Discernment that Ferries All Beings to the Other Shore." Prajnaparamita is the personification of the Divine Wisdom of the Prajnaparamita Sutras, the Wisdom of the Buddha Nature from which all Buddhas are born. Prajnaparamita is depicted in female form and is the Mother of all the Buddhas. |
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