This Buddha is seated in an impressive full lotus position, with both feet resting so far back on his thighs that his heels almost seem to touch his waist. Details such as the rounded ushnisha (a protuberance on the top of the head which is one of the Buddha’s key characteristics and which symbolises his enlightenment), covered in tight curls of hair, and earlobes which extend all the way down to the shoulders are important features which identify the Buddha and serve as a reminder of his life. Within East Asian belief, particularly Buddhism, large ears are seen as a sign of wisdom and compassion. The Buddha is often depicted with elongated ears to symbolise his ability to hear the cries of those who are suffering, and his sympathy and willingness to help ease their pain. It is therefore a comforting image, as it reminds those who see it that there is hope for an end to their sufferings through the search for enlightenment and the compassion of those who have reached it. He wears a soft expression, with his eyelids open just enough to see black and white painted details, and his gaze is directed towards the ground. His peaceful demeanour acts as a reminder of his inner serenity, which he achieved through meditation. The robes of this Buddha are particularly beautiful, with elegant folds draping over his left shoulder and spreading over the base around his feet.

The Buddha’s hands are held in the Bhumisparsha mudra, with his right hand reaching downwards across his right knee towards the ground, and his left hand resting face-up over his legs. The Bhumisparsha or ‘earth witness’ mudra (gesture or body position with a symbolic meaning and connection to an event in the life of the Buddha) represents the connection which the Buddha made with the earth when he was close to achieving Nirvana. The demon Mara was trying to frighten him and interrupt his meditation, and as part of this challenged him to produce a witness to agree that he had the right to achieve enlightenment. As the Buddha touched the ground, the earth itself appeared as his witness, allowing him to defeat Mara and prove himself worthy of reaching Nirvana.