The Pleasure Your Own Buddha Fountain - By: Joan Lighter

It may not be that difficult to imagine that someone like the Buddha connected to serenity and peace is also a distinct presence in your home garden or on a table in the living room. The Buddha fountain brings the familiar image of the Buddha to formal garden and tabletop alike.

The appearance of the Buddha fountain has been represented in a variety of styles by different craftsmen and artists over time. By doing a quick search of the web, you can find hundreds of sites featuring multiple Buddha fountain designs, from large-scale freestanding affairs to diminutive figurine-sized Buddhas resting on polished stones in the midst of decorative bowls. It is possible to find a Buddha fountain to suit any individual taste or need.

As with most modern fountains, the Buddha fountain is available in traditional materials like stone or metal, but also durable options like fiberglass and resin. Either way, you get beautifully designed fountains that will surely be the focus of your garden or indoor space.

As with most new fountain designs, the Buddha fountain comes with the easy functionality of an electric water pump and flexible tubing. Solar-powered fountains allow you to keep your Buddha fountain running on the energy of the sun.

Research is probably one of the most important steps of buying a Buddha fountain. As you start looking, keep in mind both preferences and personal taste. What kind of Buddha fountain do you really want? There are rotund Buddhas, smiling Buddhas, and solemn-looking Buddhas. Depending on where you plan to place the Buddha fountain, you may pick a model that best accommodates this aspect. If you plan to have it in your entranceway, then a tabletop Buddha fountain may be best. Now, if you want to have a fountain on your patio or in your Zen garden, then larger freestanding Buddhas are a better option. Be sure you've written down what it is you want before you begin shopping.

For the serious fountain shopper, the best place to start your search is on the web. Once you're online, you should easily locate some great retailers that sell garden water features like the Buddha fountain.

For those of you who may know something about Feng Shui, the Buddha fountain shows up in many of these inspired designs. It may help you locate a perfect fountain, if you were to look on websites devoted to Feng Shui home and garden design. As a design feature, water fountains are a great part of Feng Shui. For centuries, the water fountain has been a calming and peaceful element in design.

Once you've done enough research, and perhaps narrowed down a selection of fountains, you might consider a trip to your local home and garden center to see if they might have a Buddha fountain available for a hands-on evaluation. Many people are just more tactile and would like to look at fountains in person rather on the internet. If so, get started. Your goal in selecting a Buddha fountain should be to find a water feature that fits you as a person and enhances the space.

It may not be that difficult to imagine that someone like the Buddha connected to serenity and peace is also a distinct presence in your home garden or on a table in the living room. The Buddha fountain brings the familiar image of the Buddha to formal garden and tabletop alike.

The appearance of the Buddha fountain has been represented in a variety of styles by different craftsmen and artists over time.

I enjoy reading about and writing on the Buddha fountain. I wasn't aware of the variety of styles this popular figure was available in.