The Buddhist Symbols.?

Question

I believe they are:
1. The Parasol (or Umbrella)
2. The Golden Fish
3. The Treasure Vase,
4. The Lotus
5. The Conch Shell
6. The Endless Knot
7. The Victory banner
8. The Dharma

but what do they represent?

And what other religious festivals to they or do they not celebrate?

Answer 1

These eight symbols are some times depicted with the Buddha's actual physical body ...
* Veneration or devotion to you with your head like a protecting parasol,
* With eyes like the precious golden fishes
* With neck like a precious, adorned vase of good fortune,
* With speech like a right-turning Dharma shell,
* With a mind infinite with wisdom like the never ending knot,
* With a tongue open like the auspicious pink lotus,
*With a body proclaiming triumph over the attacking armies of Mara,
*With feet that tread the path of dharma like the auspicious wheel.

A bit of explanation is as follows :
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The parasol or umbrella is a traditional Indian symbol of both protection and royalty. In Oriental thought, the fact that it protected the bearer from the scorching heat of the sun was transferred into the religious sphere as a "protection against the heat of defilements." Thus the coolness of its shade symbolizes protection from the heat of suffering, desire, and other spiritually harmful forces. The dome symbolizes wisdom, and the hanging skirt, compassion. Thus the composite form of the parasol signifies the union of these dual elements.

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In Buddhism, the golden fishes symbolize happiness, as they have complete freedom in water. They represent fertility and abundance as they multiply very rapidly. Fish often swim in pairs, and in China they represented conjugal unity and fidelity, where a pair of fishes would often be given as a wedding present.

Both Jesus Christ and Buddha are known as "fishers of men," because they save mortals from the ocean of suffering.
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The vase (Skt. nidhana kumbha; Tib. gter gyi bum pa) is a fat-bellied vessel with a short, slim neck. On top, at the opening, there is a large jewel indicating that it is a treasure vase. In relation to Buddhism it specifically means the spiritual abundance of the Buddha, a treasure that did not diminish, however much of it he gave away

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The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment. Though there are other water plants that bloom above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface.
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Vajrayana Buddhism absorbed the conch as a symbol which fearlessly proclaimed the truth of the dharma. Among the eight symbols, it stands for the fame of the Buddha's teaching, which spreads in all directions like the sound of the conch trumpet.

In addition to Buddha's throat, the conch also appears as an auspicious mark on the soles, palms, limbs, breast or forehead of a divinely endowed being.
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The endless knot is a closed, graphic ornament composed of right-angled, intertwined lines. It overlaps without a beginning or an end, symbolising the Buddha's endless wisdom and compassion. It indicates continuity as the underlying reality of existence.
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The victory banner was adopted by early Buddhism as an emblem of the Buddha's enlightenment, heralding the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. It is said to have been placed on the summit of Mt. Meru by Buddha himself
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The Dharma wheel (spiritual law) evolved as a symbol of the Buddha's teachings. Since it is believed that Buddha was the one who "turned the wheel of the dharma" and thus the wheel symbol is the Dharmachakra, or "wheel of law." The Tibetan term for Dharmachakra, literally means "the wheel of transformation."



Following are Buddist festivals/auspicious days

Buddhist New Year

Vesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")

Asalha Puja Day ("Dhamma Day")
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).

Uposatha (Observance Day)
The four monthly holy days which continue to be observed in Theravada countries - the new moon, full moon, and quarter moon days. Known in Sri Lanka as Poya Day. [ Web Link: Uposatha or Observance Days ]

Pavarana Day
This day marks the conclusion of the Rains retreat (vassa). In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.

Kathina Ceremony (Robe offering ceremony)
Is held on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat, which is the three month rains retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. It is the time of the year when new robes and other requisites may be offered by the laity to the monks.

Anapanasati Day
At the end of one rains retreat (vassa), the Buddha was so pleased with the progress of the assembled monks that he encouraged them to extend their retreat for yet another month. On the full-moon day marking the end of that fourth month of retreat, he presented his now-famous instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati), which may be found in the Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) - The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing.

Abhidhamma Day
In the Burmese tradition, this day celebrates the occasion when the Buddha is said to have gone to the Tushita Heaven to teach his mother the Abhidhamma. It is held on the full moon of the seventh month of the Burmese lunar year starting in April which corresponds to the full moon day in October.

Songkran
This Thai Buddhist festival goes on for several days during the middle of April. People clean their houses and wash their clothes and enjoy sprinkling perfumed water on the monks, novices and other people for at least two or three days. They gather around the riverbank, carrying fishes in jars to put into the water, for April is so hot in Thailand that the ponds dry out and the fish would die if not rescued. People go to the beach or river bank with jars or buckets of water and splash each other. When everyone is happily wet they are usually entertained by boat races on the river.

Loy Krathong (Festival of Floating Bowls)
At the end of the Kathin Festival season, when the rivers and canals are full of water, the Loy Krathong Festival takes place in all parts of Thailand on the full moon night of the Twelfth Lunar month. People bring bowls made of leaves (which contain flowers) candles and incense sticks, and float them in the water. As they go, all bad luck is suppose to disappear. The traditional practice of Loy Krathong was meant to pay homage to the holy footprint of the Buddha on the beach of the Namada River in India.

The Ploughing Festival
In May, when the moon is half-full, two white oxen pull a gold painted plough, followed by four girls dressed in white who scatter rice seeds from gold and silver baskets. This is to celebrate the Buddha's first moment of enlightenment, which is said to have happened when the Buddha was seven years old, when he had gone with his father to watched the ploughing. (Known in Thailand as Raek Na)

The Elephant Festival
The Buddha used the example of a wild elephant which, when it is caught, is harnessed to a tame one to train. In the same way, he said, a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist. To mark this saying, Thais hold an elephant festival on the third Saturday in November.

The Festival of the Tooth
Kandy is a beautiful city in Sri Lanka. On a small hill is a great temple which was especially built to house a relic of the Buddha - his tooth. The tooth can never be seen, as it is kept deep inside may caskets. But once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, there is a special procession for it.

Ulambana (Ancestor Day)
Is celebrated throughout the Mahayana tradition from the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. It is believed that the gates of Hell are opened on the first day and the ghosts may visit the world for fifteen days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of these ghosts. On the fifteenth day, Ulambana or Ancestor Day, people visit cemeteries to make offerings to the departed ancestors. Many Theravadins from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand also observe this festival.

Ulambana is also a Japanese Buddhist festival known as Obon, beginning on the thirteenth of July and lasting for three days, which celebrates the reunion of family ancestors with the living.

Avalokitesvara’s (Kuan Yin) Birthday
This is a festival which celebrates the Bodhisattva ideal represented by Avalokitesvara. Who represents the perfection of compassion in the Mahayana traditions of Tibet and China. It occurs on the full moon day in March.

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Answer 2

1. the Umbrella - come under the Mayayana umbrella (to know there is always a place for you under the protection of Buddha's teachings).
2. the Golden Fish - always live in happiness and peace.
3. the Treasure vase - enjoy the inner wealth of faith and compassion.
4. the Lotus - strive to become a pure being (only when we are pure, free from all faults, can we achieve enlightenment. yeh its a hard long journey but so worth while).
5. the Conch shell - complete the Bodhisattva's (a person who holds only virtuous views in their hearts, and strives to free all living beings from the cycle of suffering, and who will attain enlightenment) path.
6. The Endless Knot - the ultimate goal is enlightenment.
7. the Victory Banner - Be victorious over the enemy of your delusions (anger, hatred, attachment, jelously etc.).
8. the Holy Dharma (known to me as the wheel of Dharma) - benefit others by turning the wheel of Dharma (always help others the best way you can and know their true nature is love and compassion). Beautiful heh!! x x x

Answer 3

I think that skirts tend to either look kind of trashy or cheap if they are tight and short, or they may be just the ordinary jean skirts that aren't necessarily sexy.

Answer 4

Try maxi skirts with the relative aspect slits those will look great you! No matter whether you have long legs or not just strut that skirt

Answer 5

Betty Boop provides a great link.

Answer 6

Hello ....hope this helps ..



http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b8symbol.htm

Answer 7

great question, i will be watching this one

Answer 8

They represent the ways of the Pagans. Turn away from such things and revert to the true faith.


There is not god but Crabby-Patty, and Spongebob is its prophet!

There is not god but Crabby-Patty, and Spongebob is its prophet!

There is not god but Crabby-Patty, and Spongebob is its prophet!

Answer 9

Italian Pizza is best answer........