h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The content of this entry is fundamantally flawed. Although little is known of the Buddha, It is unlikely he was ever fat. His 'moderate' way of life taught him that excess of food, and a lazy lifestyle are two luxurys that lead to ones suffering, not comfort in this life. My fellow researcher has obviously made the error of beleiving that Chinese statues of a fat laughing man are the Buddha, such statues are regularly confused (although I do not know how). I beleive that such statues of a fat laughing man are a Chinese deity or character of some kind called Ho-toi.

Perhaps the familiar "Buddha" image is an assemblage of symbols representing transcendence. The pot belly might signify wealth, in this case spiritual. Just a thought. Maybe it's not supposed to literally represent a being who, as has been said, was an ascetic.

The jolly fat fellow was a buddha, just not _the_ Buddha. Can't remember his name, although it's on the tip of my tongue. I'll look it up after work tonight.