Red Golden Robe Buddha Statue Holding Alms Bowl 27" Item #1c48

This standing Buddha statue is depicted holding an alms bowl. In Buddhism, the begging bowl, or alms bowl, is one of the simplest but most important objects in the daily lives of Buddhist monks. It is primarily a practical object, used as a bowl in which to collect alms from lay supporters.

Soon after Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment the four great Great Guardian Kings of the four directions each presented him with an alms bowl, the most beautiful of which was made of precious gems and the simplest from common clay. Shakyamuni was said to have either chosen the simple clay bowl or to have accepted all four bowls and miraculously convert them into one plain bowl that was sufficient for the needs of a humble mendicant. This and other legends, combined with its humble monastic uses, have made the simple begging bowl a symbol of the Buddha's teachings of non-attachment.

This wood sculpture is a one of a kind statue, hand carved by the very talented artists of the beautiful Kingdom Cambodia.