A Daily Dose of Buddhist Wisdom
Buddhist Symbology Part 5
Treasure Vase
What could be more valuable than the teachings of Buddha? The treasure vase represents this wonderful, inexhaustible treasure. The vase in this situation is a round pot, with a long neck and a jewel on top.
There is a tradition in India of burying treasure in these vases, but the treasure in […]
Buddhist Symbology Part 4
Golden Fish
Who wants to drown in the river of suffering? Who can avoid this fate? Fish of course! Just as fish swim where they wish and migrate as they will, an enlightened being can choose his own migration (rebirth). The fish can also represent fertility and abundance.
The golden fishes are another holdover […]
Buddhist Symbology Part 3
The Parasol
A parasol is not an umbrella. An umbrella protects from the rain, while a parasol protects from the sun. The parasol also symbolically protects against “the heat of defilements.” Another way to look at it is that the parasol represents the sky and the handle represents a mountain that holds up […]
Buddhist Symbology Part 2
The conch shell is another well-know symbol in Buddhism. This is another of the big Hindu symbols that has passed over to Buddhism. The great hero Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita carried a conch, as did most Hindu gods and heros.
A conch used as a “horn” is often used to call together […]
