The Wisdom Eyes

Buddha Eyes, also known as Wisdom Eyes, are painted on every stupa or Buddhist shrine in Nepal. These eyes look out to all four directions to symbolize the omniscience or all-seeing nature of a Buddha.

In classic Buddha meditation, half-open eyes are considered a proper posture. Statues of the Buddha meditating in the way that he did and taught, are the way that we do today. The Buddha's eyes are so prevalent throughout the country that they have become a symbol of Nepal itself. Between the Buddha's eyes where the nose would be is a curly symbol that looks like a question mark. This is the Nepali character for number 1, which symbolizes the unity of all things as well as the one way to reach enlightenment through the Buddha's teachings. Above this is a third eye, symbolizing the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha.