Symbols in Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism - Report Example

Symbols in Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism of Learning Symbols in Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism No religion can exist without a certain number of symbols that play a crucial role in religious ceremonies. In this respect, all religions emphasize the different symbols that are presented in different styles. “Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion” (“Religious Symbols,” n.d.). The main feature of symbols is that they allow to express certain elements of religious doctrine (be it a teaching about God, the universe or man). “A symbol is something fairly concrete, ordinary, and universal that can represent—and help human beings intensely experience—something of greater complexity” (Malloy, 2014). In addition, they perform a bridging role between the believers and the object of their worship as well as strengthen the relationship between the adherents. In the Eastern religions, the role of symbols is very high due to the fact that Eastern religions namely Daoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism consider rather abstract concepts, which need a visual image. For this reason, visual images as well as various gestures enable believers to come closer to the sacred images and concepts. The value of these symbols is rather deep and allows the believer to see the specific philosophic and religious importance that lies in it. “Religious experiences are expressed through symbols and these symbols are embedded in these practices” (Cacho, 2007). In order to see the origin and meaning of religious symbols, one needs to have an understanding of the basic ideas and principles presented in the three religions. This helps to see the role and significance of the symbols in eastern religions. Teaching and Symbols of Hinduism For the Western understanding, the ideas of Hinduism are strange mostly because Hinduism is at odds with our usual stereotypes, developed by Christian religion. Hinduism is primarily a collection of all sorts of movements, trends and schools that coexisted within a holistic composition, which corresponded to some common basic principles. In Hinduism, in principle, one cannot find any heretical forms contrary to the orthodox faith. In the teachings of Hinduism, there are ideas or assumptions about the soul, the afterlife, supernatural beings, and sacred books. Hindus believe that the man himself determines the fate of his/her soul in its future rebirths. In this regard, the concept of karma plays a key role (Malloy, 2014). The law of karma states that every human action has its consequences. If a person commits good deeds, then his/her karma is improving, and if he/she commits evil deeds, the karma is getting worse. This is a universal law of life. Karma is not a punishment for sin or reward for virtue. Change of karma is the result of the natural course of events, which are connected with each other: every action produces its consequences. In every moment, a person has a choice of what to do. By exercising this free choice, people are creating their future. The cause of human suffering is seen in the wrong understanding of the essence of all things. Man must understand the laws of the universe. In the human world, the human soul is absorbed by passions - lust, greed, envy, and hatred. All this leads to further suffering, since under the influence of negative feelings people commit evil deeds and thus they deteriorate their karma. In order to exit from the cycle of birth and death, and thus get rid of all suffering, man must realize his/her true nature. When the individual soul of a man is aware of his/her oneness with the source of all things (with God), it will be in a state of pure spirit, full of knowledge and bliss (nirvana), which have no description. In this regard, the symbols represented in Hinduism are particularly important because they serve as intermediaries between the individual consciousness (“I”) and the Absolute (that is Brahman). It should be said that Hinduism has a developed system of symbols. Most of the symbols are the embodiment of Hindu philosophical directions, teachings, gods and goddesses. They are divided into two general categories. The first category is formed by gestures and postures, while the second one – by the images or pictures. Some Hindu symbols, such as lotus and conch can also be observed in Buddhism. The symbols represented in Hinduism emphasize the spiritual connection between man and reality that has universal status. One can define the following ten symbols that are of particular importance in Hinduism: Om (Aum), hands in prayer, lotus (padma), conchshell, Swastika, trident (trishul), kalasha, cow, lotus feet (of guru or deity), and dipa/lamp (Chatterjee, 2001). The first symbol is considered to be the most universal one of Hinduism. Its sound is used in meditation. Om is the first syllable of Hindu prayers. This symbol represents the universe and the ultimate reality. Some tend to believe that Om represents the Holy Trinity of Brahma (A), Vishnu (U) and Shiva (M). Equally important is the symbol of the swastika. “Amongst the various signs and symbology of Hinduism the Swastika is the most prominent visual symbol” (Chatterjee, 2001). Despite the fact that in some parts of the world this symbol has a negative connotation because of the connection with Nazi Germany, in fact, the swastika is an emblem of good luck and happiness. This variant of a cross has appeared in ancient Hinduism and implied honesty, truth, purity and stability. Four corners of the swastika represent the four directions, or the four Vedas. In addition, the great attention is paid to hands in prayer. Hindus use this gesture to greet the most revered men as well as when visiting temples. As previously indicated, similar to Hinduism, Buddhism worships symbols such as lotus and sink, but it has its own distinctive features in the selection of symbols to convey its main religious ideas and to strengthen the relationship between believers and Buddhist teaching. Teaching and Symbols of Buddhism Buddhism is one of the oldest world religions, which was named on behalf of its founder - the Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One.” Buddha Sakyamuni (a sage of the Shakya tribe), whose real name was Siddhartha Gautama, lived in India in V - IV centuries. BC. e. (Fisher, 2014). Buddhism has incorporated many different traditions of the peoples of those countries that fell within the scope of its influence, as well as it identified the lifestyle and thoughts of millions of people in these countries. The feature of Buddhism is that it provides answers to many questions that are of particular importance to humans, such as the causes of evil and suffering in the world and the ways to get rid of them. Buddhist teaching is reflected in Buddhist practice as well as in the design of Buddhist temples. The basis of Buddhism is represented by the following “four holy truths” (Harvey, 1990): a) Life is full of suffering; b) The cause of suffering is addiction to pleasant and unwilling of unpleasant; c) Life is possible without suffering; d) There is a path to get rid of suffering. This path is called “the Noble Eightfold path”. It consists of right actions, right awareness, right concentration, right efforts, right intentions, right livelihood, right speech, and right views. This path allows one to reveal the truth of life, which is enlightenment. Buddhists seek to clear their minds from negative thoughts and feelings. Among these are anger, fear, ignorance, selfishness, laziness, jealousy, envy, and greed to name a few. Buddhism nurtures and develops such pure and beneficial qualities of consciousness as kindness, generosity, gratitude, compassion, diligence, wisdom, and others. A meditation is of particular importance as one of the steps on the path to enlightenment and nirvana. A Buddhist Meditation includes many meditation techniques that aim to develop mindfulness, concentration, peace, and enlightenment. There are two levels in Buddhist psychotechnics, namely the “yoga of action” and the “yoga of meditation” (Fisher, 2014). The first level includes the methods of development and intensification of certain physical and mental abilities. In turn, the second one is based on the methods of contemplation of subjects, mental states and processes, which occur in the body of the one who is practicing a physical yoga. The teaching of Buddhism had influenced not only the Buddhist practice, but also the design of the Buddhist temples. Despite certain differences, Buddhist temples are decorated by a lot of the symbols, which have a special significance for the theory and practice of Buddhism. In particular, “the lotus, the wheel, and the stupa can be seen in almost every Buddhist temple” (Knierim, n.d.). These symbols represent such important Buddhist concepts as purity of the soul, the eightfold path, and infinite universe. For this reason, they serve as a “visual mantras” (Knierim, n.d.). Considering symbolism represented in Buddhism one needs to pay special attention to the so-called The Eight Auspicious Signs, “revealing our progress along the Buddhist path to enlightenment” (“Buddhist Symbols,” n.d.). There are the following eight signs: umbrella, fish, vase, lotus, conch shell, knot of eternity, victory banner, and the Dharma wheel. “The umbrella symbolises the umbrella of the Buddhist community and teaches us that first we should enter the Buddhist family” (“Buddhist Symbols,” n.d.). The fish is associated with the concept of harmony that is possible in conditions of peaceful coexistence between people. The vase has a direct relationship to the idea that faith is of paramount importance for human life. The inner wealth of the human soul is always connected with the ability of a person to open his/her soul to the true nature of things. The lotus is a symbol of spiritual purity, since all people should strive to become pure beings by practicing the teachings of the Buddha. The Dharma Wheel is the final symbol that reminds of the need to pass all the stages of enlightenment in the way of getting rid of the dependence of the material world. It is worth mentioning the fact that though Buddhism denies the existence of a transcendent faith in God that is present in Christianity, nevertheless it has a symbol that positions the Buddha as the all-seeing eye. In particular, “on virtually every stupa (Buddhist shrine) in Nepal, there are giant pairs of eyes staring out from the four sides of the main tower” (“Religious Symbols,” n.d.). This symbol is used in Buddhism to emphasize the idea that a supreme being Buddha is always watching the deeds and actions of people. This is another evidence in favor of the fact that Buddhism focuses on the behavior of people. Overall, considering the Buddhist symbolism one can come to three conclusions. First, the symbols presented in Buddhism convey the idea that every follower of Buddhism automatically becomes a member of the Buddhist community, where faith and the desire for self-improvement play a key role. Moreover, Buddhist symbols refer to the most important ideas of Buddhism, such as the need for the desire for spiritual purity, the use of different spiritual practices, etc. Finally, it can be argued that Buddhism uses its symbols for approval of the spiritual authority of Buddha who is considered the main spiritual guide for all the followers of Buddhism around the world. No less interesting is the symbolism that characterizes the teachings of Taoism. Considering that Taoism is based on the concept of the Tao, which is essentially abstract, Taoist symbols have a specific depth and content. Teaching and Symbols of Taoism Analyzing the symbolism of Taoism, it is necessary to understand the essence of this teaching, because otherwise the symbols represented in Taoism can be regarded as mere abstract images devoid of any content. Taoism is a philosophical and religious direction that is based on the recognition of the existence of a universal cosmic principle called Tao. Tao is manifested through everyday life and it is embodied in the actions of trained people. Moreover, the practice of Taoism suggests a complex system of symbols that represent the idea of harmony and unity of the cosmic world and the individual. Taoism argues the idea that all truly “great” is associated with the transcendent Tao that at the same time manifests itself in things, events, actions, and in this sense, it has a direct relationship with the earthly world (Oldstone-Moore, 2003). This cosmic force is always seen in close connection with the human world. Taoism preaches original naturalness and simplicity of life. Moreover, this simplicity should be manifested not only in the very form of life, but in a special world view. Since Tao reigns over the world objectively and independently of human desire, then the only way to the correct life is to live in accordance with the Tao by following its rules. The symbolic presentation of Tao involves the designation of two of its manifestations, namely in the form of yin and yang. Yin “is heavy and sinks down,” while yang … “is light and ascends” (Oldstone-Moore, 2003). Taoism considers these forces as having the opposite qualities, yet it sees no conflict between yin and yang. On the contrary, their interaction is seen as a harmonious complementarity, where the qualities belonging to the yin complement the qualities characterizing the yang, and vice versa: This construct of equal balance between negative and positive factors is of course contradictory to most exiting fundamentals where good is forever sought in its complete form. The yin and yang concept however advocates the necessity of having both factors present to embrace an ideal balance (Vines, 2014). To sum up, the value of symbols represented in Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism is extremely important. Firstly, they are the unifying incentives that promote the consolidation of the activities of all followers. The followers become part of a single family where religious leaders are taking the responsibility to be an assistant to the spiritual enlightenment of the people. In addition, the symbols of the three religions often use abstract images. This is due to the fact that each religion considers the abstract concepts (Brahman in Hinduism, Nirvana in Buddhism, and Tao in Taoism). Symbols provide a graphic illustration of the meaning that is embodied in separate religious concepts. Furthermore, symbols in particular those presented in Buddhist emphasize the role of the main preacher of the religion. References Buddhist symbols. (n.d.). Heruka Kadampa Meditation Centre. Retrieved from http://www.meditateinlondon.org.uk/about-buddhism/buddhist-symbols/ Cacho, A. (2007). Symbolism in religion: Ricoeurian hermeneutics and Filipino philosophy of religion. Kritike, 1(2): 122-131. Chatterjee, G. (2001). Sacred Hindu symbols. (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. Fisher, M.P. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Harvey, P. (1990). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, history and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Knierim, T. (n.d.). Introduction to Buddhism. Natural Meditation Group of East Central Florida. Retrieved from http://www.insightflorida.org/uploads/buddhism.pdf Molloy, M. (2014). Experiencing the worlds religions: Tradition, challenge, and change. (6th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Oldstone-Moor, J. (2003).Taoism: Origins, beliefs, practices, holy texts, sacred places. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Religious symbols. (n.d.). Yale University. Retrieved from http://chaplain.yale.edu/religious-symbols Vines, V. (2014). Yin Yang and balance of life. New York: Neil Playfoot. Read More