Gil Fronsdal, a teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California, gives this short talk on the Buddha statue as a teaching in its own right: it represents being still, tranquil in body and mind, eyes gazing kindly.
The Buddha statue is kind of symbolic, a teaching in its own right. Exhibiting confidence without assertiveness. It represents being still, tranquil in body, tranquil in mind. The eyes are half-open and the idea is gazing upon the world with kindness as we know the Buddha is a kind and compassionate person. This summarizes the teaching: Be still and gaze upon everything kindly.
Be still, don’t be frozen, don’t hold yourself tight, relax into the stillness and tranquility, and gaze upon everything kindly, So whatever goes on, whatever comes up, it’s a training not to be in conflict or aversive or critical of whatever is happening.
And with that kind of attitude, we are kind of like beginners all the time, starting over again. Partly in meditation, we’re constantly starting over.
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