Buddha, But Not As You Know Him

Isn't this a bit scary? It's the Buddha, but not as you know him. This is the fasting Buddha.

At the age of 19, Siddhartha went outside his palace and saw "the four sights": an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic (one who practised extreme self-discipline and abstention). This sight moved him to leave his luxurious lifestyle seek a way out of the inevitable sufferings of the world. He tried various methods and eventually practised asceticism, reducing himself to a state of emaciation. This is how he is depicted in this statue.

Buddha later decided that the "Middle Way", a moderate lifestyle of meditation and moral behaviour, was a better path to Nirvana. Phew.

"Schist head of the fasting Buddha"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-656-849-C

Copyright: The Trustees of the British Museum

Spank - So Good They Blogged It Twice

This is one of my very fave images on Scran. Not only does it show a very attractive farmer (Kate's boyfriend, in fact) but it also is a "Scran-whack" - ie, the only search result which comes up when you search for a particular word. And what is the word? "Spank"
:-) Scran it up, people!

Shepherd John MacKenzie grasps a lamb

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-201-425-C

Copyright: Hulton Getty

Giant Headed Pony

Little tiny pony, great big head. Cute, but also slightly unnerving.

"Wild Pony On The Island Of South Uist In The Western Isles"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-134-828-C

Copyright: Adam Elder

Bannocks/Drop Scones/Scotch Pancakes

Mmmm...they look so good!

"Home-Made Bannocks With Jam"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-035-056-C

Copyright: Carney and Lyall Productions Ltd

Scary Mask Boy (Girl?)

I'm sure it's all perfectly harmless.

"Young person with the Leicestershire Youth Arts in a performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-135-194-C

Copyright: Gerry McCann

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Say Your Prayers

Has Teddy Bear noticed the corpse he's saying his prayers with?!

"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear 04: Teddy Bear says his prayers"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-625-328-C

Copyright: Scran / Sheila Elder

I Want This

This key ring is a wee magnetic climbing bottle-opening man.

1) You stick him on your fridge and he looks like he's climbing it with your keys hanging off his bum. You don't lose your keys because they're on the fridge door.

2) You open bottles with him (he's handily on the fridge door) and his wee magnetic hand holds on to the bottle top for you.

""Jimmy" key ring and bottle opener by black+blum"

www.scran.ac.uk/000-000-625-455-C

Copyright: Scran/Edward Martin