The Dharma Wheel

The dharma wheel is one of the oldest and most important symbols in Buddhism. It symbolizes the teachings of the Buddha and explains the process of death and rebirth with the eventual release from this endless cycle. The Buddha is said to have set the dharma wheel in motion when he gave his first teaching on the Four Noble Truths in a deer park near Sarnath to five aesthetics. In buddhist art, the deer flanking the dharma wheel signify the deer in the park listening to the Buddha teaching. This shows the Buddha’s compassion for animals as well as for humans.

Buddhists regard the wheel's three basic parts as symbols of the three kinds of training in buddhist practice. The hub symbolizes moral discipline to stabilize the mind. The spokes denote the application of wisdom to defeat ignorance. The rim represents concentration, which holds the practice together.

A wheel with four spokes stands for the Four Noble Truths. Eight spokes signify the Eightfold Path. Ten spokes represent ten directions, and twelve spokes signify the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. Twenty-four spokes signify the twelve links and their reversal--freedom from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

Elephant

In Asia and Africa, elephants are considered sacred. They are symbols of beauty, power, dignity, intelligence and peace. The white elephant was significant in the Buddha’s birth. His mother, Queen Maya, dreamed of a white elephant who offered her a white lotus with his trunk and entered her womb. The royal sages predicted the birth of a great monarch or a Buddha.

In Buddhism, elephants symbolize mental strength on the path toward enlightenment. They are tranquil and obedient, steadfast and unstoppable once set on a path; and have large ears to listen to the Dharma. At the beginning of practice, the uncontrolled mind is symbolized by a gray elephant. After practicing and taming the mind, the controlled mind is symbolized by a white elephant, strong and powerful, which can be directed toward liberation.

The Prayer Wheel

Prayer wheels are used mainly by buddhists of Tibet and Nepal to spread spiritual blessings and well-being. Rolls of thin paper, imprinted with thousands of copies of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum or sacred texts, are wound around an axle inside the wheel and spun around and around. It is believed that the power of the spinning sound is as effective as reciting the sacred texts aloud.

The Bodhi Tree

The Buddha achieved awakening under the shelter of a sacred fig tree known as the bodhi tree. Since then, the bodhi tree has become a symbol of the Buddha’s enlightenment, and the heart-shaped leaf a symbol of the potential that lies within each of us to awaken.

Bell

Since ancient times, temple bells have summoned monks and nuns to meditation and ceremonies. The gentle ring of a bell during chanting helps followers to focus on the present moment and let go of daily worries. A sense of peace and calmness can be enhanced by the sound of the bell. For this reason, wind bells are often hung on the eaves of stupas and temple to create peaceful and meditative spaces, with their tinkling sounds.

The ring of the bell is a symbol of the Buddha’s voice. It also represents wisdom and compassion, and is used to call upon the heavenly deities for protection and to ward off evil spirits. Many old temples have bells at the entrances that one needs to ring before entering

Prayer Flags

Buddhists of Tibet and Nepal hang prayer flags outside their homes, over mountain passes and rivers, and sacred places. The flags are said to promote peace, compassion, long life and wisdom. They are inscribed with auspicious symbols, prayers, and mantras. When the flags flutter in the wind, they are said to emit positive energy that pervades the area with happiness and well-being.

The Lotus Flower

In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol of the Buddha’s awakening and a reminder that all beings have the same potential to attain enlightenment. The lotus grows out of mud and rises to the water’s surface to bloom in beauty and purity, so too can the human develop the virtues of a Buddha and rise above desire and attachment to reveal the true nature.

The stage of the lotus flower represents the stages on the spiritual path. For example, a closed bud is synonymous with the beginning of the journey. A partly open flower indicates walking the path. A fully blooming flower signifies the end of the journey--enlightenment.

The Bodhi Leaf

The bodhi leaf is heart-shaped and exudes a bright and lilting energy. It speaks of playfulness and thoughtfulness. The bodhi tree still stands in Bodh Gaya where the Buddha was awakened as a descendant of the one under which the Buddha sat centuries ago

The Mala

A mala usually consists of 9, 21, or 108 beads strung on a string. Each bead represents one. However, the bead is not alone, but is connected with all the other beads to make a whole strand. As individuals, we may think we are separate, but we’re not. We are connected to each other, to our family, to the world. We are all living beings together. One cannot exist without the other. This connection to life, we call the Buddha nature.

The idea of the mala is to move one bead at a time, focusing on a breath, a mantra.