June 30, 2021

Buddhism Symbols

Introduction

Everyone has some set of rules or beliefs to live their life. Religion gives you direction and gives meaning to your life. It gives us hope in a life to handle stressful situations. Without following any religion, one is like sailing a boat without a sailor.

There are so many religions around the world. Still, major religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Taoism. Many people believe that following a religion gives them the courage to live a happy life and helps in building values like kindness, love, and peace.

Buddhism is considered one of the major religions around the world, mainly in Asia. Buddhism was originated in the 6^th-century B.C.E by Siddhartha Gautama. Some of the major Buddhist countries in which 70% of the population practice Buddhism are Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Bhutan.

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion that emphasizes the way to end your suffering by controlling your desires. It teaches that by not keeping hatred, delusion, and greed, which are the reasons for all suffering, one can have a perfect life as much as possible, which further leads to peace.

Symbols of Buddhism

Buddhist symbols are used to narrate Buddha's teachings and different aspects of life. Therefore, there are important symbols of Buddhism which represent his teachings about life. Some early symbols remain important today: the Indian lotus, the Dharma wheel, the two golden fish, and the Bodhi tree.

Important symbols of Buddhism

The dharma wheel

The dharma wheel known as the Dhamma chakka or dharma chakra is considered a universal Buddhist symbol. The dharma wheel reflects the teachings of Buddha. The dharma chakra derives from Dharma which is the way of achieving enlightenment and attaining the highest state one can achieve.

The two golden fish

The two golden fish symbol is considered a Buddhist symbol for love. Besides love, it also helps in bringing happiness and good fortune to your life. The two great Indian rivers, Ganges and Yamuna, are also linked with the two golden fish symbols. The golden fish symbol in Buddhism brings happiness, fertility, and freedom in movement as fishes swim freely in the water.

The Parasol or Umbrella

In general, an umbrella is used to protect from rain and sun, so according to Buddhism's perspective, a parasol or umbrella is used to protect from all evils, illnesses, and sufferings and provide protection. Therefore, this symbol is also known as a Buddhist symbol for strength.

The lotus flower

The lotus flower symbol is considered the most important symbol in Buddhism. It is used to represent virtue and purity. The lotus flower roots are in deep mud but still grow into beautiful flowers despite unfavorable environments. Similarly, an impure person can achieve a perfect state and enlightenment in his life by following the Buddha's teachings.

The Bodhi tree

Bodhi tree is a large fig tree that is an important symbol in Buddhism and known as the "tree of awakening "where Buddha has achieved enlightenment. Therefore, this symbol is also known as the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment.

Conclusion

It is not easy to live a life without following any religious values. One should have some faith or moral values to spend his life in a particular direction. In Buddhism, each Buddhist symbol plays a vital role in conveying Buddha teachings as Buddha himself was not in favor of writing down his teachings, so these symbols were used to remember his teachings and qualities. These symbols are usually drawn on the ground with some color powder or flour to greet their religious leaders.