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Common Buddhist Symbols and What They Mean

Buddhism uses many symbols to represent concepts and deeper meanings. The lotus flower, endless knot, dharma wheel, and two golden fish are some symbols that people use in this religion repeatedly. Learn more about common Buddhist symbols and what they mean.

Lotus Flower

The lotus flower has many meanings in the Buddhist religion. However, people most often use it to represent the purity of an enlightened mind that arises from life’s challenges. The lotus represents the enlightened mind that rises from the mud. And this image of the mud represents life’s various challenges. Keep in mind that this is just one of the interesting facts about the lotus flower, though. This flower has many meanings in other religions as well.

Endless Knot

As you probably guessed, the endless knot has no beginning and no end. It represents Buddha’s endless compassion and wisdom and the unity between the two. People also refer to it as the endless knot or the glorious knot.

Dharma Wheel

The dharma wheel is one of the most important symbols in the Buddhist religion. Just as the cross represents Christianity and Jesus’ teachings, a dharma wheel represents the Buddha’s teachings and the Buddhist religion. Each part of the wheel represents an important concept in the religion. For instance, the eight spokes of the wheel represent Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path, which is the path to achieving Nirvana.

Golden Fish

The final symbol on this list of common Buddhist symbols and what they mean is the pair of golden fish. The two golden fish are side-by-side with their heads and tails close together. Since ancient times, this symbol has represented two rivers in India, the Yumana and the Ganga. These rivers brought life and prosperity to the people there. They also have many other meanings. They can represent happiness, prosperity, harmony, loyalty, and fertility.

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Written by Logan Voss

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