Museumization

The Abhaya Mudra is referred to as the “dispelling fear pose.”   in Sanskrit the word means ‘fearlessness’ and this pose or mudra is one of the most common Buddha statue poses.   It symbolizes peace and protection and is thought to ward off fear and danger.

This pose is achieved extending the right arm. In the dispelling fear mode draw, the home of the hand faces out at shoulder height and the arm is slightly bent.This Buddhist symbol of courage emphasizes the spiritual power of the Buddha or bodhisattva who makes it.  A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who has embraced Buddhahood.

The dispelling fear mudra can also be thought of as a symbol of friendship as the empty hand is devoid of weapons.  The position is often misinterpreted by Westerners as an indication to “stop, but” it really implies fearlessness before danger or threat.  The Abhaya Mudra is believed to be the gesture that the Buddha Shakyamuni made after gaining enlightenment.

Stories from Buddhist mythology often tell of the Buddha’s use of the dispelling fear pose to pacify potential enemies. Only a Buddha statue or bodhisattva sculpture would be seen in the dispelling fear pose, as it is only useful to those who have achieved enlightenment.

In Thailand and Laos, the dispelling fear pose is most commonly seen in images of Buddha in a standing position.This mudra is most identified with the fifth Dyhani Buddha, Amoghasiddhi.  The five Dyhani Buddhas are the 5 wisdom Buddhas or great Buddhas who represent the core qualities of the Buddhist philosophy. They are often represented as the cardinal directions - North, South, East, West and then Center.

It is common to meditate on Amoghasiddhi to remove negative feelings like jealousy and bring a deeper meaning to one’s own success.  Jealousy is a negative emotion that can be interpreted as a form of fear, so the dispelling fear pose makes sense.when we see the Buddha in the dispelling fear pose, usually the right-hand is in the Abhaya Mudra with the left hand resting at the Buddha’s side. Occasionally the left-hand makes the varada mudra, a gift-giving gesture.

Another symbolic meaning of the dispelling fear pose is an interpretation of the action of preaching.  Chinese and Gandhara Buddha interpretations are the ones that most often used to dispelling fear pose to represent the Buddha preaching.

Displaying Buddha statues in the dispelling fear pose can have many purposes within the home beyond Asian decor.  A Buddha statue in the dispelling fear pose as citations of protection, safety and courage.  It can also be a reminder of the need for personal strength and emphasize our spiritual journey to eliminate doubt and fear.