Garden Buddha Statues: What the Poses Mean and Where to Place One

A Buddha is one of the most popular garden statues in the UK, and it's easy to see why. A seated figure brings a sense of stillness that suits a quiet corner, a patio or a planted courtyard.

But Buddha statues aren't all the same. The position of the hands, the figure's dress and even whether it's laughing all say something different. Knowing what you're looking at helps you choose one you'll be happy to live with, and place it well.

Seated in meditation: hands resting in the lap

The most familiar pose shows the Buddha seated cross-legged, with both hands resting in the lap, palms upward. It's known as the dhyana mudra, the gesture of meditation, and it represents calm, focus and inner peace.

It's the natural choice for a contemplative spot, and the most common in gardens. Our Extra Large Lotus Buddha, Compassion Buddha and Large Serene Buddha all sit in this pose. The Buddha of Light rests its cupped hands in its lap, where a tea light can be placed.

Hands raised to the chest

When the Buddha's hands are held up in front of the chest, the pose recalls the dharmachakra mudra, the gesture associated with teaching. It's linked with the Buddha's first sermon, "setting the wheel of teaching in motion".

Our Dharma Buddha holds its hands at the chest in this spirit. It's a slightly more active, outward-looking pose than meditation.

The crowned Thai style

Some Buddha figures wear a tall, pointed crown and richly decorated robes. Crowned Buddha images are a recognised tradition in the temple art of Thailand and neighbouring countries. They are ornate and striking, and they stand out well against a plain wall or dark foliage.

The Full Size Thai Buddha follows this style, seated in meditation beneath its crown.

The Laughing Buddha

The round-bellied, laughing figure is a different character altogether. Known as Budai in China and Hotei in Japan, he is based on a Chinese monk remembered in folklore for his cheerfulness and generosity. He is a symbol of contentment, abundance and good fortune, not a depiction of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.

A Laughing Buddha brings warmth and a bit of humour rather than stillness, and suits a sociable patio or a family garden. See the Massive Laughing Buddha and the standing Smiley Buddha.

Buddha heads and wall masks

A head gives the same serene expression in a smaller footprint. On a plinth it becomes a focal point among ferns or grasses; mounted on a wall or fence it adds interest without taking up any ground at all. Look at the Beautiful Large Buddha Head, the Buddha Head on Classic Plinth and the wall hanging Buddha head mask.

What about Ganesh?

Ganesh is often shown alongside Buddha statues, but he isn't a Buddha. He is a Hindu deity with an elephant's head, widely honoured as the remover of obstacles and the patron of new beginnings. If that's the figure you have in mind, see our Ganesh statues.

Placing a Buddha thoughtfully

For many people a Buddha is a religious figure, not just decoration, and a little care in placement shows respect and looks better too:

• Raise it up. Avoid setting the statue straight onto bare soil. A plinth lifts it to a more fitting height, and many of our Buddhas come with a plinth option, such as the Extra Large Lotus Buddha Plus Plinth and the Compassion Buddha on Regis Plinth.
• Choose a calm, clean spot. Keep it away from bins, compost heaps and the washing line.
• Face it into the space. Turn the figure to look out over the garden, towards the house or towards a seat, rather than at a wall or a fence.
• Give it a backdrop. Bamboo, ferns, acers or a plain rendered wall all set off a seated figure well.
• Add water. The sound of running water suits a Buddha perfectly. The Patio Fountain with Compassion Buddha combines the two.

Size and finish

As with any ornament, judge the size from where you'll see it. A figure viewed from a patio a few metres away needs real presence, which is why the larger statues are so popular.

For finishes, the Bronze paint effect and Black suit contemporary gardens, while natural limestone and sandstone weather softly over time and Antique Stone gives an aged look from day one. See our colour options. Every statue is cast in UK-quarried reconstituted stone, hand-finished, and frost proof.

Browse the full Buddha statues range. Prices include delivery to most mainland UK postcodes, and our showroom in Chichester has examples you can see in person.