Buddhist symbols and their meaning

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

According to one Tibetan legend, when the Divine Sage achieved Perfect Awakening, he was presented with eight symbols called auspicious. Now they are very popular both in Tibet itself and in countries where Buddhism came along the northern branch. These signs are very ancient and are present in religions such as Hinduism and Jainism. They can also be found on the walls of Buddhist monasteries, and, of course, in the homes of believers. In this article, we will look at eight symbols of Buddhism and reflect on their meaning.

1. Goldfish

This is a sign of reaching Nirvana and overcoming the Ocean of Samsara. In the Buddhist sutras, reaching Nirvana is analogous to reaching that Shore. What does it mean? To explain, it is necessary to define the opposite term "This Shore". It symbolized the World of Passion, which consisted of six paths. Our subconscious mind closely interacts with the World of Forms and is directly related to rebirth (the Ocean of Samsara). Those who float on this ocean constantly fall into the World of Passion. This is how the process goesrebirth.

Where is that Shore? It represents the World Without Forms. If a person has worldly desires, then they, like waves, will become a serious obstacle when trying to get to that Shore. And the saint who enters this ocean will overcome it without any problems, since he has conquered his worldly desires. From here, another meaning of the sign "goldfish" appeared. They have become a symbol of victory over our worldly desires: fish have no fear of the ocean, they swim where they want. The golden color represents the merit gained through spiritual practice. You ask, why is there not one fish, but two? We think this is a clue that in spiritual practice one must not only accumulate virtuous deeds of thoughts, speech and body, but also develop wisdom.

There are other interpretations (i.e. Buddhism symbols have multiple meanings). Historians believe that goldfish are two Indian rivers: the sacred Ganges and its deepest and longest tributary, the Yamuna. This is the pre-Buddhist explanation of this sign. In those days, the mentioned rivers personified the left and right channels in the human etheric body.

And in ancient texts, two goldfish were figuratively compared with the eyes of the Savior. Next, we will look at other symbols of Buddhism and their meaning. Some characters will also have multiple interpretations.

2. Lotus

The lotus flower is a symbol of holy compassion and love. And these two feelings are included in the four immeasurables and help to find the way to the soul of the Bodhisattva. White Lotussymbolizes holiness and spiritual purity. Pink - is considered a sign of the Savior, that is, the Buddha himself.

The lotus leaves its roots in the mud, its stem passes through the water column, and the petals rise above it. They are open to the sun and clean. There is no defilement in the mind of the enlightened one. The three root poisons cannot poison the mind of a saint, just as unstained lotus petals cannot linger on dirty water.

3. Sink

Like other symbols of Buddhism, it has its own meaning. A white shell with a spiral twisted to the right is considered a sign of the Savior's enlightenment, as well as good news to all beings about the possibility of reaching his nature. In ancient times, the shell was a musical instrument (wind). Therefore, it is not surprising that it symbolized sound that spread in all directions. Likewise, the teachings of the Buddha are transmitted everywhere, calling on all beings to awaken from the sleep of ignorance.

Most often in nature there are shells in which the spiral is twisted to the left. Right hand spiral shells are very rare. It was they who were associated in the minds of people with special signs and were considered sacred. The direction of their spirals was associated with the movement of celestial bodies: stars, planets, including the Moon and the Sun.

4. Precious Vessel

Belongs to the category "The most beautiful symbols of Buddhism", the pictures of which are present in any Buddhist temple. This is a sign of he alth, long life, as well as prosperity and we alth. The lid of the vessel is decorated with a jewel called chintamani (translated from Sanskrit - fulfilling the plan).

You already know that the symbols of Buddhism can have several interpretations. So the contents of the jug have two interpretations. The first says that inside is the nectar of immortality. Remember, Buddha Amitayus and Padmasambhava's disciple Mandrava held such a jug with the elixir of immortality on thangkas. They gained eternal life and forgot what aging and death are. On the other hand, the Buddha's Teaching says: in the Three Worlds, nothing can be eternal, only our true nature is eternal. By applying the practices of longevity, the practitioner can significantly extend his existence and eliminate life's barriers. The main obstacle is the lack of energy. Life extension is especially valuable if a person practices to achieve Liberation, improves in compassion and love, accumulates wisdom and merit, thereby becoming needed by other beings.

According to the second interpretation, this vessel is filled with jewels. Moreover, you can take them as much as you like, he will not be devastated by this. What do the jewels symbolize? These are good rewards for the beneficent deeds performed by people. Those who accumulate positive karma will surely reap the fruits of happiness.

5. Wheel of Dharma

The wheel of the law is the fifth symbol of Buddhism, the photo of which is attached to the article. Its eight spokes reflect the essence of the doctrine - the observance of the eight "noble principles": correct faith, behavior, speech, values,aspirations, earning a livelihood, concentration and evaluation of one's own actions. The center of the wheel is a point of consciousness that radiates soul qualities.

6. Banner of Victory

This symbol of Buddhism means the triumph of Dharma over ignorance, as well as the passage of Mara's obstacles. This banner is on top of a mountain called Sumeru. As long as the Universe (Heaven of Brahma and the World of Passions) exists, this mountain of Perfection will be indestructible. Therefore, it is simply impossible to destroy the teaching of the Savior.

7. Endless Knot

Some Buddhism symbols have multiple interpretations. And the infinite knot belongs to this category. For some, it is an endless cycle of being, for others it is a symbol of eternity, for others it is a sign of the inexhaustible knowledge of the Buddha. It is also a sign of the interdependence of all events in the universe and the complex relationship between compassion and wisdom in the process of achieving Enlightenment. And in order to achieve it, you need to overcome the infinitely long path of the Mahayana. The path of the Bodhisattva is quite long and includes many kalpas.

There is also a hypothesis that the endless knot reflects another symbol, consisting of 2 intertwining snakes. The snake is one of the most ancient signs of kundalini, which came to India from ancient Egypt. Most likely, the infinite knot has a connection with the chandali. This is supported by the theory that intertwining snakes are very similar to the movement of kundalini along the left and right channels of the etheric body.

8. Umbrella

The precious umbrella is the last auspicious symbol of Buddhism. While a person is on the path of Enlightenment (achieving Buddha nature), the sign helps him in overcoming obstacles.

Traditionally, the umbrella from the sun symbolized protection in India, as well as royal greatness. Since it was held above the head, naturally, it symbolized respect and honor. For secular rulers, umbrellas were made from peacock feathers. In the religious consciousness of most people, protection from bad weather was associated with protection from vices, pollution and passions that hinder spiritual development. That is, just as a simple umbrella saves us from the rays of the sun or rain, its precious counterpart protects us from obstacles on the path to Awakening.

The Tibetan version of the umbrella shape was borrowed from the Chinese and Hindus. The prototypes consisted of a silk dome and a wooden frame with spokes. There was a fringe or frill along the edges. The silk was red, yellow, white or multi-colored, and the stalk was dyed exclusively in red or gold. In Tibet, an umbrella could be used to find out the status of the owner. Moreover, he was a symbol not only of secular power, but also of spiritual power. According to ancient legends, Teacher Atisha was revered to such an extent that he was given thirteen umbrellas to accompany him.

Conclusion

Now you know the basic symbols of Buddhism. We hope you understand their meaning. Without a semantic load, they are just beautiful pictures, decorations and trinkets. Use these symbols to achieve the state of Enlightenment.