Gallery: The enlightening world of Buddha-inspired designs

The All-Seeing One is a common sight in Asia (and other parts of the world). At times, his image appears in the strangest of contexts. Here’s a round-up of Buddhas that might make you do a double-take.

Laughing Buddha belly tattoo

If you’re cursed with a Buddha belly, you might as well wear it with flair. At the 2009 Seattle Tattoo Expo, a man showed off a front-and-back tattoo of jolly Siddhartha. Do you think rubbing his belly brings double the luck?

Buddha-Jabba-Mao armchair

English artist Gerald Scarfe created a chair titled “Chairman Mao.” (Get it? Chair?) But the amorphous face and belly are as much inspired by Buddha. Or Jabba the Hutt.

Forbidden: climbing the headless Big Buddha

The Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) in Koh Samui, Thailand is a popular destination for tourists. And, so it seems, rabble-rousers that try to scale headless monuments.

Bite into a karma-friendly pear

Now that’s a “pear shaped-body”: Chinese farmer Gao Xianzhang experimented for six years until he could grow baby Buddhas from trees. Each pear is encased in a plastic mold until maturity, when it sells for US$10. I wonder if these fruits are good for both spiritual as well as physical health.

A gold polyester suit to disturb

The caption for this gold Buddha get-up is: “Bring good luck and fortune to your next costume party!” I’d re-write it as: “Drive all your friends away with terror and loathing.” The pendulous ears, the nipple detail… shudder. US$89.99 from BuyCostumes.com 

Zen parking lot

Parking can be stressful -- so a Buenos Aires car lot plopped the Buddha’s name and meditating figure over the gate. A blog reader comments: “Maybe they charge less, but require a Zen koan in return?”