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Buddhist Symbols
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 It is said that the Buddha was reluctant to
accept images of himself, as he did not like to
be venerated as a person.
To symbolise the Buddha in the very early art,
one used mainly the Eight Spoked Wheel
and the Bodhi Tree, but also the Buddha's
Footprints, an Empty Throne, a Begging
Bowl and a Lion are used to represent him.
The Dharmachakra
 has eight spokes, symbolising the Eight-fold
Noble Path.
 The 3 swirling segments in centre represent
the Buddha, Dharma (the teachings) and
Sangha(the spiritual community).
 The wheel can also be divided into three
parts, each representing an aspect of
Buddhist practice; the hub (discipline), the
spokes (wisdom), and the rim (concentration).
Bodhi Tree
 Refers to the tree under
which the Buddha
achieved enlightenment
 Tree worship was
already part of the
existing culture in India,
so the development of
the bodhi tree and leaf as
a devotional symbol was
a natural one.
 A Bodhi Tree is grown in
Buddhist centres
Buddha’s footprints
 The story goes that
prior to his death the
Buddha left an
imprint of his foot on
a stone near
Kusinara,
a reminder of his
presence on earth.
The Begging-bowl
 shortly before the Buddha
reached enlightenment, a
young woman named
Sujata offered him a bowl
of milk-rice.
 Monks go into the street
with their bowl and eat
only what is placed in
there by others
The Lion
 one of Buddhism's most
potent symbols.
 associated with regality,
strength and power.
 Buddha who tradition
has it was a royal
prince.
 The Buddha's teachings
are sometimes referred
to as the 'Lion's Roar',
indicating their strength
and power.
The Lotus
 Grows up from the mud
through muddy water to
blossom
 Purification and
enlightenment
 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.
 Open blossom
enlightenment
 Closed blossom potential
for enlightenment
The white elephant
 The white elephant
here symbolizes
perfect wisdom and
royal power
 In India, an elephant
is accounted the most
sacred animal on
earth.