In many parts of the world, people are charmed by images of the Buddha. They liked to put them on a mantlepiece or in their garden as ornaments, perhaps without thinking about the deeper meaning of these statues.
In Thailand, the image of the Buddha is so revered that it is illegal to use it as a decoration. The only appropriate place for such an image is a shrine for contemplation.
When we see the Buddha in a garden or on a shelf, we could berate the householder, or be shocked that the Buddha has been reduced in such a way. Or we could notice Him, and elevate Him in our minds, feeling grateful for the wisdom of Our Teachers, creating a shrine in that very moment, in that very place.
