Eight Auspicious Symbols
The Symbolism of the eight auspicious signs reveal our progress along the Buddhist spiritual path.
The Umbrella
symbolizes the umbrella of the Buddhist community and
teaches
us that first we should enter the Buddhist family.
The Fish
symbolize harmony indicating that under this umbrella
we should always live in harmony and peace.
The Vase
symbolizes wealth and teaches us that we should enjoy the inner wealth of our faith, moral discipline, our study and practice of Dharma,
benefiting others, sense of shame, consideration for others, and wisdom.
The Lotus
symbolizes purity which indicates that we should always strive
to become a pure being by practising the Bodhisattva's way of life.
The Conch Shell
symbolizes the Dharma Jewel and teaches us that we should
accomplish the Dharma Jewel, the realizations
of the stages of the path, within our own mind.
The Knot of Eternity
symbolizes an uncommon quality of Buddha's realizations,
namely his realization of omniscient wisdom.
The Victory Banner
symbolizes an uncommon quality of Buddha's abandonment, his abandonment of the delusions and mistaken appearance.
These last two signs together indicate that through gaining the Dharma Jewel, the realizations of the stages of the path to enlightenment,
we shall attain these two uncommon qualities of Buddha.
The Dharma Wheel
indicates that, having attained these two uncommon qualities of Buddha, we are able to lead all living beings to permanent liberation from suffering, principally by turning the wheel of Dharma,
that is by giving Dharma Teachings. This is our final goal.
