special daruma

Daruma 達磨 is a Japanese lucky amulet. Made with papier-mâché, it is a representation of the monk Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. According to legend, the latter achieved enlightenment after meditating alone in a cave for 9 years, but he lost his arms and legs which had atrophied. Hence the particular form of Daruma.

How to proceed
Choose an objective and draw a first eye to Daruma. When you reach it, you will draw the second eye on it as a sign of gratitude. By way of learning, you will also note the way in which you reached your goal: it is a moment of great personal satisfaction. If you don't get what you want, then you can burn your Daruma at the end of the year: it just means you're going to look for other ways to achieve your ends.

Daruma's Spirit
His figurine reminds us that if we are determined and persevering, we will achieve the goal we have set ourselves. In this sense, it is essential that we choose a specific and achievable goal. It is not a question of buying a Daruma and then waiting for the magic to happen: Daruma motivates us and gives us the strength to work hard and strive. For the Japanese, all occasions are good to offer a figurine; however, there are very symbolic dates such as birthdays or the New Year.

Available in 4 sizes (small, medium, large and special), the red Daruma, which can be used for all types of objectives, is the most common. So, what project are you going to work on?