Viral story: Prayed for 4 years to Buddha, turns out it was a Shrek figurine

Thekabarnews.com—A woman in the Philippines prayed to what she thought was a Buddha statue for four years. She later found out that the green figure was actually Shrek, the famous ogre from the DreamWorks Animation movie series.

People who have written about the woman online say that she bought the statue at a store near her home. She used it as part of her daily spiritual practice. Even though it was a strange green color and had unique facial features, she never doubted that it was a real religious icon.

A friend who was visiting pointed out that the statue looked more like Shrek than a traditional Buddha statue. This is how the mistake came to light. People on social media quickly shared the news. Their reactions were a mix of laughter and sadness.

Many people on the internet said that the woman was truly devoted. They believed her prayers and intentions were real, no matter who the statue really was. People said the story was funny and heartwarming. Because of this, it spread quickly.

Attendees of the event assert that it demonstrates the personal nature of spiritual practice and its influence on the surrounding culture. Moreover, people can easily get confused when they encounter unfamiliar religious symbols and diverse artistic styles. Such confusion happens especially in places where people from different cultures live together.

Some Buddhists also spoke up and said that in many spiritual traditions, the intention and mindfulness behind an action are more important than the action itself. From this perspective, the significance of prayer derives more from faith and sincerity than from the form of the symbol employed.

While reports have not gone into much detail about how the woman reacted when she found out the truth, the story has sparked bigger conversations about faith, symbolism, and the natural human desire for spiritual connection. This happens even when that connection involves a beloved animated ogre.