Stone of the Month: 

August 2025 

“Buddha’s Hand”

Many years ago on one of my trips to China, I saw a large upright stone displayed in a Buddhist temple. This stone, named “Buddha’s Hand,” inspired me to learn more about the significance of the symbolic hand gestures in Buddhist teachings. Different hand gestures are used to convey spiritual meanings, and serve as non-verbal means of communication. For example, if the right arm is bent and the hand raised to shoulder level with the palm facing outward and fingers pointed upward, it is a cordial, non-threatening greeting.

Later, on another trip to China, I purchased several pieces of fossil coral. Fossil coral has long been recognized and collected in China for its aesthetic qualities. When I displayed this piece in an upright position, it reminded me of another symbolic Buddhist hand gesture—the Vitarka Mudra. It is an upright hand facing outward with the thumb and index finger touching to form a circle. The hand in this position is associated with the cycle of teaching and learning, with the circle representing a continuous flow of energy and wisdom. 

This minerialized coral specimen is 6 cm wide, 12.3 cm high, and 3.7 cm deep.