SYMBOLS in BUDDHISM

The Wheel of Buddha Dharmachakra The Eight-Spoked Dharma Wheel or 'Dharmachakra' (Sanskrit) symbolises the Buddha's turning the Wheel of Truth or Law (dharma = truth/law, chakra = wheel).

The wheel is one of the most important Buddhist symbols, as it represents the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha was the one who "turned the wheel of the dharma" and thus the wheel symbol is the Dharmachakra, or "wheel of law."

The wheel's motion is a metaphor for the rapid spiritual change by Buddha at his "first turning of the wheel of dharma." The eight spokes of the wheel symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path set out by the Buddha in his teachings.

The wheel also represents the endless cycle of samsara, or rebirth, which can only be escaped by means of the Buddha's teachings. Some Buddhists regard the wheel's three basic parts as symbols of the "three trainings" : Hub = moral discipline, which stabilizes the mind. Spokes = wisdom which is applied to defeat ignorance. Rim= training in concentration, which holds everything else together.

THE BEGGING BOWL The begging-bowl refers to the the story that shortly before the Buddha reached enlightenment, a young woman named Sujata offered him a bowl of milk-rice. At that moment, he was practicing austerity by eating extremely little. But he realized at that moment that he would need to have more strength for the final steps to enlightenment, and further fasting would only reduce his energy.

After he reached enlightenment, he is said to have thrown away what little was left in the bowl to signify his renunciation of all material possessions. bowl also points to the monk's way of life; going from the monastery into the village each morning and living off what is put into it by lay people.

LOTUS The Lotus (padma) is a very important symbol in India and of Buddhism. It refers to the complete purification of body, speech and mind, and the blossoming of good deeds in liberation. The lotus refers to many aspects of the path, as it grows from the mud (samsara), up through muddy water it appears clean on the surface (purification), and finally produces a beautiful flower (enlightenment).

The white blossom represents purity, the stem stands for the practice of Buddhist teachings which raise the mind above the (mud of) worldly existence, and gives rise to purity of mind. An open blossom signifies full enlightenment; a closed blossom signifies the potential for enlightenment.

SWASTIKA The swastika ("all is well") is a cross with four arms of equal length, with the ends of each arm bent at a right angle. The swastika is an ancient symbol found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. The Buddhist swastika is almost always clockwise, while the swastika adopted by the Nazis (many of whom had occult interests) is counterclockwise.

Buddhism, the swastika signifies good fortune as well as the Buddha's footprints and the Buddha's heart. The swastika is said to contain the whole mind of the Buddha and can often be found imprinted on the chest, feet or palms of Buddha images. It also signifies universal harmony, and the balance of opposites. Facing right, it represents strength and intelligence.