In parallel with his professional career, Per has been a student of Buddhism and Buddhist history, art and statues. He has a particular interest in the historical evolution of Buddhism. In his book “Becoming Enlightened” Dalai Lama talks about the value of Buddha images. “It is important to value any image of the Buddha, whether it is fashioned from precious or ordinary material, constructed well or poorly. In the Lotus Satri it is said that even nonbelievers who encounter an image of Buddha while emotionally worked up can have a tremendously beneficial experience.
This is because Buddha’s single-minded dedication from the depths of his heart to achieving the well-being of others, practicing the spiritual path of great compassion over eons and eons, generated an attitude so powerful that it even resides, in a sense, in images as if they were just articles of furniture but rather to value them highly.”
I have personally felt this time and time again. This is key to why we started collecting Buddha statues. Each Buddha figure was somehow carefully selected and has a special value and quality and should be respected. It is not about the monetary value or uniqueness but about the special circumstances, the place and the people when you encountered the figure and acquired it. It is, the way you tell your story online that can make all the difference.
It is like a process of bonding, getting to know each other and establishing a mutual understanding and agreement to share time in the future. This should not be taken light- heartedly, it is a critical process. Ideally, there should be a strong emotional attachment from the beginning of the partnership. You take on a responsibility to be the custodian of a figure and to provide a good home.
