Why do Buddhists have images of Buddha?
The images of Buddha symbolize his extraordinary qualities and teachings. Seeing these images helps us to get in touch with our own Buddha nature. Buddha nature-the true, the spiritual essence of all things, exists everywhere. Most of us are so preoccupied with everyday matters that we rarely, if ever, give it much thought. The serene, compassionate face and composed posture of the Buddha image remind us of the spiritual side of life. It can ignite a spark of peace and insight within us. It is what they stand for that counts, not their physical apperance. However, it is important to not be attached to the images of a Buddha. They are merely symbols that help us to develop wonderful qualities, but are also subject to the same laws of impermanence as everything else. There is an excellent story illustrating this point passed from the 8th century Zen master Danxia Tianran. On one very cold winter day, the legend says, Tianran picked up a wooden Buddhist statue and threw it into the fire.
