Symbols of Buddhism and their meaning

According to one Tibetan legend, when the Divine Sage attained Perfect Awakening, eight symbols, called favorable symbols, were presented to him. Now they are very popular both in Tibet and in countries where Buddhism has come along the northern branch. These signs are very ancient and are present in such religions 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 the eight symbols of Buddhism and reflect on their meaning.

1. Golden fish

It is a sign of the achievement of Nirvana and the overcoming of the Ocean of Samsara. In the Buddhist sutras, the attainment of Nirvana is similar to the attainment of That shore. What does it mean? To explain, it is necessary to define the opposite term "This shore". He symbolized the World of Passion, which consisted of six paths. Our subconscious closely interacts with the World of Forms and has a direct relationship to rebirth (Ocean of Samsara). Those who swim on this ocean, constantly fall into the world of Passion. This is the process of rebirth.

Where is that shore? It represents the World Without Forms. If a person has a worldly desire, then, like the waves, they will become a serious obstacle when trying to get to That Beach. A saint who enters this ocean, without problems, will overcome it, since he conquered his worldly desires. From here appeared another meaning of the sign "goldfish". They became a symbol of victory over our worldly desires: fish do not have fear of the ocean, they swim where they want. The golden color embodies the merits gained in the course of spiritual practice. You ask, why there is not one fish, but two? We think this is a clue hinting at the fact that in spiritual practice one should not only accumulate virtuous deeds of thoughts, speeches and bodies, but also develop wisdom.

There are other interpretations (that is, Buddhist symbols have several meanings). Historians believe that goldfish are two Indian rivers: the sacred Ganges and its most full-flowing and long tributary - Yamuna. This is the pre-Buddhistic explanation of this sign. At that time the mentioned rivers personified the left and right channel in the human etheric body .

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

2. Lotus

The lotus flower is a symbol of holy compassion and love. And these two feelings enter into four immeasurably and help to find the way to the Bodhisattva soul. The white lotus symbolizes holiness and spiritual purity. Pink - is considered the sign of the Savior, that is, the Buddha himself.

With its roots, the lotus leaves into the silt, its stem passes through the water column, and the petals rise above it. They are open to the sun and clean. In the consciousness of the enlightened there is no pollution. The three root poisons are not capable of poisoning the mind of a saint, just as dirty water can not rest on the spotless lotus petals.

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, and also a good news to all beings about the possibility of achieving his nature. In ancient times the shell was a musical instrument (wind instrument). Therefore, it is not surprising that it symbolized the sound that spread in all directions. Similarly, the Buddha's teaching is transmitted everywhere, calling upon all beings to awaken from the sleep of ignorance.

Most often in the nature there are shells, in which the spiral is twisted to the left. Sinks with a right-hand spiral are very rare. They were associated in the minds of people with special characteristics and were considered sacred. With the direction of their spirals, the movement of heavenly bodies: stars, planets, including the Moon and the Sun, was connected.

4. The precious vessel

It belongs to the category "The most beautiful symbols of Buddhism", pictures of which are present in any Buddhist temple. It is a sign of health, a long life, as well as wealth and wealth. The lid of the vessel is decorated with a jewel, which is called cintamani (translated from Sanskrit - fulfilling the intended).

You already know that the symbols of Buddhism can have several interpretations. Here and the contents of the jug has two interperations. The first says that inside is the nectar of immortality. Remember, on thangkas such a jug with the elixir of immortality was kept by Buddha Amitayus and Padmasambhava's disciple - Mandrava. They have acquired eternal life and have forgotten what aging and death are. On the other hand, in the Teaching of the Buddha it is said: in the Three Worlds nothing can be eternal, only our true nature is eternal. Applying the practice of longevity, a practitioner can significantly prolong his existence and eliminate life's obstacles. The main obstacle is the energy deficit. Extension of life is especially valuable if a person practices to achieve Liberation, cultivates in compassion and love, accumulates wisdom and merit, thereby becoming necessary to other beings.

According to the second interpretation, this vessel is filled with jewels. And they can take as much as necessary, it does not emptied of it. What do the jewels symbolize? These are good rewards for beneficent actions committed by people. One who accumulates positive karma, necessarily reap the fruits of happiness.

5. Wheel of the Dharma

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

6. Banner of Victory

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

7. Infinite node

Some symbols of Buddhism have several interpretations. And the infinite node belongs to this category. For some, it is an endless cycle of being, for others - a symbol of eternity, for others - a sign of 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 attaining Enlightenment. And to reach it, you need to overcome the infinitely long path of Mahayana. The path of the Bodhisattva is quite long and includes many kalpas.

There is also a hypothesis that an infinite node reflects another symbol, consisting of 2 interlacing snakes. The snake is one of the most ancient kundalini signs that came to India from ancient Egypt. Most likely, an infinite node has a connection with the candala. This is confirmed by the theory that interlacing 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 favorable symbol of Buddhism. As long as a person follows the path of Enlightenment (the attainment of Buddha nature), the sign helps him in overcoming obstacles.

Traditionally, the umbrella from the sun symbolized protection in India, as well as royal grandeur. Because he was kept above his head, of course, he 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 interfere with spiritual development. That is, just as a simple umbrella saves us from the rays of the sun or rain, its precious counterpart protects from obstacles on the way to Awakening.

The Tibetan version of the umbrella shape was borrowed from the Chinese and Hindus. Prototypes consisted of a silk dome and a wooden frame with spokes. On the edges there was a fringe or frill. Silk was red, yellow, white or multicolored, and the stalk was painted exclusively in red or gold. In Tibet, an umbrella could reveal the owner's status. And he was a symbol of not only secular power, but also spiritual power. According to ancient traditions, Teachers Atysh were revered to such an extent that they allocated thirteen umbrellas to accompany him.

Conclusion

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