115 Buddha Tattoo That Will Awaken Your Spirituality

If you love the idea of spirituality, then you are going to love Buddha tattoos. People get these tattoos because they want to be part of something great. These types of tattoos are so popular right now and there’s a reason for that. There is no better time in the world to get more spiritual and a Buddha tattoo might be just what you are looking for.

We have a tone of different tattoo options that you may love. Scroll through our list and see the Buddha tattoos that inspire you:

Ying & Yang

What a creative way to have a Buddha tattoo especially when you add the Ying and Yang together. It’s a creative way of putting everything together. 

Amazing Designs

A great style that is just an outline of everything that you need in a tattoo. 

Detailed Design

A wonderful Buddha depiction that has a little more detail than most. 

Portrait Styles

A portrait of a Buddha that has a lot of detail to it. We love the gorgeous jewel in the middle of her forehead. 

Symbolic Designs

We love all the different ways that you can have a Buddha tattoo.

The History of Buddha

Where It All Started

If you want to know why you should get a Buddha tattoo, then we have the answers for you. It’s not just a beautiful piece of art with a figure that is iconic. There is a lot of history and meaning behind the tattoo. These tattoos deserve our respect, so you should know what you are putting on your body.

The beginning of the history of Buddha all started in the Kosala realm of ancient India, which is probably surprising to you. Many people believe it started in Thailand, China or Tibet.

It’s hard to believe that there was a time before the Buddha was known as the legend he is. About 3000 years ago, he was a prince named Siddharta Gautama. He was born into wealth and had everything he could have wanted. There came a day when he realized that there was more to life than just possessions and there was more than could bring him happiness.

He Decided On a Lifelong Change

He decided one day that he didn’t want the life of wealth and fortune so he left the royal lifestyle in search of something bigger. He took himself to the forest where he searched out enlightenment and spiritual guidance and that was just the beginning of where his journey went. He took the time it took to really make discoveries. He studied mediation for six years until he mastered the art. He learned how to truly see his mind’s potential.

The State of Enlightenment

What does it truly mean to get to the state of true enlightenment? The Buddha knew better than anyone. His goal was to stay in a state of meditation until he could unlock his mind. He traveled to a place called Bodhgaya where he sat for 6 days and six nights trying to unlock his mind’s potential. He was still a young man when he was doing this and the week before his 35th birthday, there was a full moon and he finally cracked the block in his mind. He discovered what it meant to have true enlightenment. He discovered what it means to live in the moment and he changed his life, unable to return to the man that he once was. This practice that he used is now what many people know as mindfulness.

The Buddha Took To Traveling and Teaching Others

How He Changed the World:

Once he discovered how to unlock his own mind, he wanted to teach others to do the same. He spent the next 45 years traveling through northern India to meet and teach people. Anyone that he came across who wanted to learn, he would sit with and teach what he learned about enlightenment. He didn’t care where the person came from, whether they are rich or poor or what kind of profession they had. He just wanted to teach them how to be mindful and to change their lives. He never once said that his words were all there was, he always encouraged his students to question his teachings by testing it with their own experiences. People know that to be the Buddha’s way this whole time.

There are four noble truths to what the Buddha believes and these are the things that guide his teachings. If you want to get a Buddha tattoo, then you should know what it really represents. These truths are deemed noble because they are meant to liberate us from a mind that is not enlightened.

The Four Noble Truths

Suffering

We all know that life involves suffering, we have all experienced hard times at one point or another in our lives. Even when we have good times, there’s always the idea that it can always get worse.

The Cause Of Suffering

Fundamental ignorance and craving is why people suffer. The Buddha believes that our suffering comes from the idea that we are independent and have to take care of “I.” Ego is a delusion and it often causes us more trouble than we need.

End of Suffering

We don’t have to always be in suffering, that is temporary. We aren’t always meant to walk around under a rain cloud. Suffering can end and the idea is to purify the mind. The idea is to awaken the mind so that you can live a peaceful and happier existence.

The Path

The goal in learning is to become more enlightened and we do that by growing our wisdom, meditating, and living ethically. We want to be able to walk away from suffering and to gain freedom. This is how we live like Buddhas.

How to Take Care Of  Your New Tattoo

Buddha tattoos are sacred designs, so you are going to want to make sure that you take care of it properly and that means aftercare. If your tattoo is not properly cared for, then you could end up with art that doesn’t look very nice and that’s not what Buddha represents. 

Getting a tattoo is about more than just getting a nice tattoo, you also have to learn how to take care of one. You will likely get instructions from your tattoo artist about how to care for your tattoo within the first 48 hours. We have some great tips that you can follow as well to get you through the hard parts. 

Tips To Caring For Your Tattoo

Keep The Bandage On For Awhile

Bandaging isn’t always necessary and some artists won’t bandage the tattoo at all. It depends on the artist and they have their own ideas as to why they want a tattoo bandaged or not. If you are instructed to have a bandage, don’t take it off until they say so. You have to wear it regardless of how uncomfortable it will be. You might notice that it becomes sweaty which doesn’t help with the discomfort. 24 hrs is usually the typical time to keep the bandage on but if your artist tells you otherwise, it’s best to follow his instructions. How long the bandage stays on has a lot to do with how much swelling is involved. 

Keep Your Tattoo Clean

The first thing you want to do when you take the bandage off is to clean the area. It’s important that you are careful when you clean the tattoo. You don’t want to be rough or to even rub the area. When you clean it, try to use unscented and alcohol-free soap. 

Dry The Tattoo

Next is drying the tattoo but again, you don’t want to do any type of rubbing on the tattoo. It’s always best to pat the tattoo dry. A towel would be the most comfortable but you can use paper towel too. 

Use Lotion 

Once the tattoo is dry, you want to apply some lotion to it. You might think it’s okay to let it air dry but that’s not what’s best. The area has to be dry before you apply any lotion. The tattoo should be moisturized so that it doesn’t get tight and dried out. 

Do The Steps More Than Once

This is a process that happens over and over again until the tattoo is healed. Allowing it to heal is the best thing for it because that’s how it stays looking awesome for as long as possible. There will be a phase where the tattoo will start to scab and eventually peel. That’s why you need to keep moisturizing it. You don’t want the tattoo to get an infection which is something that can happen if you let it get dry and cracked. Moisturizing is more important than you think because it keeps the area from drying out. The process of washing, drying and moisturizing can last between 2-4 weeks depending on how it heals. 

Scabs Are Not For Picking

As the tattoo starts to scab, you might be tempted to pick at them because they can feel itchy. We advise you not to do that. Picking at scabs can actually cause permanent damage to your tattoo. If that happens you will have to go back to the artist and have it fixed, which you will be charged for. Picking can also delay how soon the tattoo heals so in the end your discomfort only lasts longer anyway. 

Don’t Be A Sun Worshipper 

Fresh tattoos aren’t meant to be out in the sun. Not only can the sun be a danger to your tattoo but it can also fade a lot quicker. If you are going to be out in the sun, make sure you apply sunscreen frequently to the tattoo. You can buy special tattoo sunscreen but it is pricier than the normal stuff. 

Don’t Immerse Yourself In Water

We stated before that you have to keep your tattoo clean but that doesn’t mean that you go and take a bath. Bodies of water from baths to pools, to lakes, can have bacteria in them and that’s the last thing that a healing tattoo needs. Healing tattoos can’t be waterlogged because that’s how infections can start. For the time being, you should only take short showers and don’t stand under the water for too long. 

It’s really important to continue to care for your tattoo until it is completely healed. that’s the best way to have a long-lasting, beautiful design. 

How To Choose an Artist

There are things to know before you book your tattoo:

1. Do Your Research – You want to do research and make sure you are going to a reputable place. Most tattoo shops have websites now and you can check out their portfolios. Don’t just go anywhere. Make sure you know where you are going and what kind of experience they have. Go to someone who has experience with the specific type of tattoo you have. If you want a portrait and your tattoo artist doesn’t have a lot of experience with those types of tattoos, you might end up with some regrets. 
2. Ask Around – Chances are, you already know someone with a great tattoo. Ask them for a recommendation and at least you know that they already do good work. 
3. Don’t Go To A Shady Place – There are a lot of dirty establishments out there, unfortunately, and they often offer cheap tattoos. Don’t be sucked in by the price. You don’t want to go to a place that might be unclean and where you could end up with someone who isn’t experienced. 

If you are looking for a tattoo that is all about enlightenment, then you can’t go wrong with any of these tattoos. You must remember that it’s not just a tattoo but it’s meant to be a lifestyle change. The idea is to change your life and not only be a better person but to bring more mindfulness and happiness into your life. 

We hope you enjoyed the article and found something that is amazing and good for your own body. Comment on your favorite tattoos.