The name “daruma” comes from the Buddhist word dharma. Dharma is the truth about the way things are and will always be in the universe or in nature. According to legend, a Buddhist monk sat for so many years meditating that his arms and legs stiffened up. From then on, he rolled from place to place spreading the teachings of Buddha. In Japan, people buy daruma dolls on New Years’ for good luck. The dolls come with blank eyes. To make a wish, you put a dot in the daruma’s left eye. If it comes true, you fill in the other eye.
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