Buddhism
Prayer Beads
A rosary has 108 beads. It is used for counting mantras, chants or prayers. Buddhist rosaries are made from variety of materials, most commonly wood. Preferred woods are sandalwood or sacred wood from the bodhi tree. More expensive rosaries are made of precious and semi-precious stones. They can also be ... [more]
Om Mani Padme Hum
"Om Mani Padme Hum" is the most important mantra in Buddhism. It is the six-syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. The basic English translation of Om Mani Padme Hum is "Om Jewel in the lotus Hum" or "Praise to the Jewel in the Lotus." However, the meaning and significance ... [more]
Lotus
Lotuses are symbols of purity and ‘spontaneous' generation and hence symbolize divine birth. According to the Lalitavistara, "the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the new lotus in the (muddy) water which doesn't adhere to it," and, according to esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is ... [more]
Dharmachakra
Wheels symbolize the Wheel of Buddhist Law, the endless cycle of rebirth and rebirth. They are round, with four spokes, symbolizing the Four Jinas or the four ‘moments' in the life of Buddha; or with eight spokes, or octagonal, symbolizing the Noble Eightfold Path. The spokes sometimes extend beyond the circle, ... [more]
Butter Lamps
Externally, the lights are seen to banish darkness. Conceptually, they convert prosaic substance into illumination, a transformation akin to the search for enlightenment. The outer meaning of the offering of butter lamps is that one of six such virtues, the Perfection of generosity which is achieved by giving away the ... [more]
Buddhapada: The Buddha’s Footprints
The footprints of the Buddha (Buddhapada) are one of the early representations of the Buddha in the ant-iconic (no statues) stage of Buddhist art). The Buddhapada are highly revered in all Buddhist countries, but especially in Sri Lanka and Thailand. Symbolizing the grounding of the transcendent, feet have been objects of ... [more]
The Eight Offerings
Offering water to cleanse the mouth or face: It signifies auspiciousness or all the positive causes and conditions which bring positive effects. So, make an offering of water, which is clean, fresh, cool, smooth, light, delicious, comfortable to the throat and stomach - these qualities are the qualities of auspiciousness. Offering ... [more]
Eight Auspicious Substances
The eight auspicious substances are symbolic offerings to the Buddha of the eight factors of the noble eightfold path - right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. 1. Mustard Seed The mustard seed signifies right understanding. Its significance relates to the Buddha's ... [more]
Eight Auspicious Signs
The Golden Parasol offers protection against the sun; in like manner, the Buddhist doctrine protects a person's spirit. The Golden Fish keep their eyes wide open in spite of the water, and they have knowledge of obstacles and objectives; similarly, the Buddhist doctrine permits the faithful to take correct actions in ... [more]
Buddhist Postures
Standing: Some depictions of the Buddha - usually the historical Buddha or Amitabha - show him standing upright. In such instances, the posture is often accompanied by the fearlessness gesture (right hand raised at the elbow with palm facing outwards) and the giving gesture (left hand dangling downwards with palm ... [more]