Question for Buddhists

Pertaining to Buddha himself, is obesity really the way in which an eminent voice on the religion should present himself?

Philosophically, I admire Greek notions of grandeur and physical perfection as well as perfection on an intellectual plane as well - which was also a representation recurrent in the Italian Renaissance.

The fat Buddha became a symbol, is all. By all historical accounts, we either have no idea what the Buddha looked like, or he was much less rotund. The infamous Buddha pose is, if anything, a representation of happiness, not a statement on a religious figure's BMI.

Beyond that, obesity isn't always looked down upon. Or rather, it shouldn't be when pertaining to religious matters. Would you discount someone's opinion because of their weight? Unless the matter on which they spoke was, say, fitness, I hope your answer would be a resounding "no."

Your admiration of physical perfection is, perhaps, itself admirable. However, it has no bearing on spirituality. Nor happiness, for that matter, which was one of the primary virtues espoused by the Buddha's philosophy.

In summary, this is a silly notion. We might as well deduct points from Jesus because he didn't have hella-ripped abs.

Also, wrong forum.

Originally posted by Digi
In summary, this is a silly notion. We might as well deduct points from Jesus because he didn't have hella-ripped abs.

It just so happens we have an actual likeness painting of the Christ during His biggest moment:

Originally posted by Digi
it has no bearing on spirituality. Nor happiness, for that matter

Spiritually leanness represents the energy of a healthy, normal youth. Muscular perfection, well that's a step further. As for happiness, scientifically and in the common sense shared among the generations the lived around the time of the actual Buddha (if there was one when the religion was founded), is a better body not the result of increased dopamine reception and therefore increased release of hgh; does a high metabolism, strong immune system, superior central nervous system, better blood circulation, oxygen capacity, does all that not support a healthier, happier, more dopamine enriched mind?

Off-topic; the True Buddha:

YouTube video

Originally posted by Oneness
Wrong on both accounts.

Spiritually leanness represents the energy of a healthy, normal youth. Muscular perfection, well that's a step further. As for happiness, scientifically and in the common sense shared among the generations the lived around the time of the actual Buddha (if there was one when the religion was founded), is a better body not the result of increased dopamine reception and therefore increased release of hgh; does a high metabolism, strong immune system, superior central nervous system, better blood circulation, oxygen capacity, does all that not support a healthier, happier, more dopamine enriched mind?

You're confusing "does represent" with "can represent." Important distinction, that.

As mentioned, though, the Buddha didn't preach being fat. One can't help how future generations reduce one's philosophical legacy to a trite and misleading statue. Go do some homework on the Buddha's actual teachings instead of basing an opinion off of a symbol whose metaphoric meaning you fail to grasp.

Originally posted by dadudemon
It just so happens we have an actual likeness painting of the Christ during His biggest moment:

Lol. And thus did atheism weep in defeat.

Originally posted by Oneness
Pertaining to Buddha himself, is obesity really the way in which an eminent voice on the religion should present himself?

Philosophically, I admire Greek notions of grandeur and physical perfection as well as perfection on an intellectual plane as well - which was also a representation recurrent in the Italian Renaissance.

Learn something before you make a fool of yourself. Too late!

The round fat Buddha is not what Buddha looked like. It represented a good life.

What you understand as The Buddha is a total misunderstanding of Buddhism to begin with. There are several branches of Buddhism. THe version you are mocking is the populist version known as Mahayana Buddhism which worships the original Siddhartha as almost like a God. It is a stretched truth version to say the least kind of like the differences between, Protestants, Mormons, Later Day Saints, Catholics, Muslims, Judaism and Orthodox Christians in their interpretations of the Old Testament/Torah. You can say that Mahayana Buddhism is like the Mormon version of Buddhism; a VERY different story from the original. There are several people who attain the capacity of Enlightenment and from what we understand and that they were so saint-like they gave up enlightenment to help others and they are known as Bodhisattva. Your comments in terms of obesity without your knowledge is over one of the Bodhisattva statues that was popularized in populist Mahayana Buddhism. The true characteristics that are considered the hallmarks of a "Buddha" when making a statue are known as "the 32 marks of a great man" http://essays.triratna.info/02-Thirty-two-Signs-of-a-Buddha.html

I took a survey world religion course and two art history courses on Asian Art History. That is why I know this. 🙂

Originally posted by RaventheOnly
I took a survey world religion course and two art history courses on Asian Art History. That is why I know this. 🙂

😂

Sadly, even this is grossly over-credentialed to refute the OP's premise.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Learn something before you make a fool of yourself. Too late!

The round fat Buddha is not what Buddha looked like. It represented a good life.

Buddha did in fact starve himself until he nearly died, was that apart of his good life?

I think to say being plump=being happy is against common sense. Obesity literally causes physiological depression, it's called hyperglycemia.

Originally posted by Digi
😂

Sadly, even this is grossly over-credentialed to refute the OP's premise.

Excluding you.

She's off trying to explain the entire religion, I'm scrutinizing a very minute portion of it.

Originally posted by Digi
You're confusing "does represent" with "can represent." Important distinction, that.

As mentioned, though, the Buddha didn't preach being fat. One can't help how future generations reduce one's philosophical legacy to a trite and misleading statue. Go do some homework on the Buddha's actual teachings instead of basing an opinion off of a symbol whose metaphoric meaning you fail to grasp.

Of course if I were Buddhist the very thesis of this post would still be as irrelevant to the religion in and of itself as it is now, silly people.

I'm exposing the obvious joy of being fit by reconsidering the symbolism of tubby-Buddha as a happy one.

💃

Originally posted by Oneness
How do I base anything off his symbol.

Of course if I were Buddhist the very thesis of this post would still be as irrelevant to the religion in and of itself as it is now, silly people.

I'm exposing the obvious joy of being fit by reconsidering the symbolism of tubby-Buddha as a happy one.

You're not exposing sh*t. You're misunderstanding - deliberately or through ignorance - a metaphoric symbol. And the fat Buddha IS a symbol, and this entire thread is about it, so your first sentence here is incoherent.

If you need further proof, the only actual Buddhist on KMC is calling this sh*t as well.

I get it; you want to make some statement about fitness. You're doing it the wrong way, though, because nothing about what you're attempting to attack is commentary on fitness and health.

Originally posted by Oneness
I contradicted that proclamation without making a fool of myself.

You seemed foolish to me.

Originally posted by Oneness
Buddha did in fact starve himself until he nearly died, was that apart of his good life?

Buddha tried many things until he awake to his enlightenment. Get a book about Buddha and learn something.

Originally posted by Oneness
I think to say being plump=being happy is against common sense. Obesity literally causes physiological depression, it's called hyperglycemia.

We are talking about symbolism. Buddha wasn't fat. The oldest statues of Buddha are of a thin man.

When I see a body builder the first thing that comes to my mind is DON'T USE BIG WORDS! hee hee

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
You seemed foolish to me.

Misunderstandings are a root cause of otherwise avoidable conflict.

Buddha tried many things until he awake to his enlightenment.

Which was moderation as pertaining to his diet? Yes, but that is called an imbalanced diet, as he kept eating the same thing IIRC. So no, it's illogical and against the rest of what he discovered about blissfulness - applying the perfect balance/moderation in life.

We are talking about symbolism. Buddha wasn't fat. The oldest statues of Buddha are of a thin man.

When I see a body builder the first thing that comes to my mind is DON'T USE BIG WORDS! hee hee

Originally posted by Oneness
Misunderstandings are a root cause of otherwise avoidable conflict.

What?!
You made a thread without doing any research what so ever. That is what made you look foolish.
As far as what you just said? It’s a non sequitur.

Originally posted by Oneness
Which was moderation as pertaining to his diet? Yes, but that is called an imbalanced diet, as he kept eating the same thing IIRC. So no, it's illogical and against the rest of what he discovered about blissfulness - applying the perfect balance/moderation in life.

Buddha wasn’t fat. No one really knows what he looked like, but the oldest statures are of a thin man.

Originally posted by Oneness
Bodybuilders have don't have a lot of functional muscle. Sprinters almost always look like intellectuals when they're in a normal outfit cause they just look skinny. As do most MMA fighters, yet they have above average muscle, to the extreme actually. But it's all in definition, not in bulk.

You are trying to turn the little round Buddha into a stereo type. That is not what it is.
Is this a fat man?

theres no way buddha was that fat. he lived on rice and shit

Originally posted by Oneness
Pertaining to Buddha himself, is obesity really the way in which an eminent voice on the religion should present himself?

Philosophically, I admire Greek notions of grandeur and physical perfection as well as perfection on an intellectual plane as well - which was also a representation recurrent in the Italian Renaissance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai

Really tho

Originally posted by dadudemon

Also, impressive pain tolerance.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
without doing any research what so ever.

1) I obviously have some limited knowledge of Buddhism - albeit, mainly pertaining to Buddha himself.

How did I get it? Research.

2) The purpose of my question has seemingly alluded everyone but Digi based on the responses I'm getting. Which doesn't surprise me, as Digi is an exceptionally deductive and comprehensive reader. Why would robustness have become the symbolism for an enlightened man who’s achieved a mental state of perfection, as opposed to perfection of body?

It is more than just common sense that a fit person will have more dopamine due to better blood circulation and higher energy levels. And that a fit body is also the result of a balanced diet and exercise routine. Fitness should be an integral part of Buddhism for these reasons.

So, yeah.