Buddhism is a religion that is centered on compassion and wisdom and dates to way back. For this reason, it has a bucket load of history. 7.1 percent of the total world population is Buddhist- this translates to over 500 million followers worldwide. Buddhism has numerous teachings and symbols that help people to learn about the religion itself. The historical Buddha lived during the 6th century BCE. The use of symbolism in Buddhism may also be attributed to the fact that Buddha used quite a number of images in his teachings. After his death and as Buddhism continued to spread, Buddhism symbols became more common. These symbols may invoke inner peace and awaken deeper states of mind in those who see them. Each symbol is unique and holds a different meaning or convey a different message. It may inspire us to achieve our greatest aspirations, values, and potentials.
The symbolism in Buddhism is believed to date back to a couple of centuries that immediately followed Buddha’s death. At this time, people started representing Buddha’s teachings through art and symbols. One of the earliest symbols was the wheel of dharma which Buddha used to illustrate his teachings. The symbols didn’t come from Buddha himself, but were adopted by his followers and were widely taught as representations of the god’s gifts to Buddha after his death and subsequent enlightenment. Often used in meditation practices, these objects are said to help anchor the mind and invoke a deeper understanding of Buddha’s teachings.
Here are some of the most inspiring Buddhist symbols and their meaning. The earliest and most popular symbols in Buddhism include the Buddhapada (foot prints), the lotus flower, the Bodhi tree, the Alms-bowl, the Civara (robes), the four animals related to the Buddha, Bull for Zodiac, Elephant for birth, Horse for great renunciation and Lion for discourse, the stupa, and the Dharma wheel. The lotus flower is used in different instances to represent different things. The wheel also features 8 spokes and all of them have different meanings. The Foot Prints or Buddhapada Buddhapada is the symbol consists of a print of both the feet or might contain the impression of one foot as well. It represents the fact that Buddha was physically present even at the time when the religion of Buddhism consisted of no statues at all. The period from the time the Buddha’s footprints are found is known as an ant-iconic stage. Today, the footprints represent Buddha’s absence since he has now entered nirvana. These footprints ensure the fact that Buddha was a human being, and he resided on the earth. Moreover, these prints provide us with the path that we need to follow. They, therefore, work as a guide for us. Some of the footprints are found naturally, and men have built some of them. The footprint (or foot-prints), which denote both his former physical presence on earth and the reality of his temporal absence
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