A Dutch version of this article is available here.

A BEAUTIFUL GIFT

Recently we were presented with the wonderful gift of a stained glass window by one of our congregation members. The window consists of a lovely array of Buddhist symbols. The composite design was taken from a brooch designed by Rev. Master Jiyu called "The Symbolic Body of the Buddha" and represents the way in which training and enlightenment manifest within and through the body. The window is now mounted in the office door of our temple and beautifies its Dharma Room.

SYMBOLS OF THE BODY’S SPIRITUAL NATURE

The design features not only three easily recognizable Buddhist symbols—the lotus flower, the fish, and the knot of eternity—but also the conch shell, the jade center, and the blue background. Our body has both physical and spiritual aspects. These physical and spiritual aspects of our being work together as an organic whole, just as the organs do in the physical body. This is why physical practices, such as sitting straight in meditation and bowing, have such deep spiritual meaning and impact. The body of a Buddha is a body in which the spiritual aspects function in unhindered harmony with the Buddha Nature.

THE LOTUS FLOWER

The lotus flower is by far the most familiar symbol in the above picture. It represents the coming to full fruition of our inherent potential for Buddhahood—our inborn ability to live in harmony with our Truest Self, the Buddha Nature.

In order for a lotus plant to develop from a seed into a mature plant, it must stay rooted in the mud at the bottom of the pond. Only thus can it grow up through dark and murky waters toward the light of the sun. Likewise, our potential for enlightenment cannot be realized unless our spiritual life remains grounded within the “mud” of daily life with all its suffering and confusion. Because of this very suffering and confusion, we seek a way to spiritually grow through the murky waters of the world toward the light of the Eternal.

The lotus plant must develop a strong, robust stem in order to reach the surface of the pond. Our efforts to be true to the True Spirit of the Precepts and develop deep faith enable our Buddhist training to become the robust stem of our spiritual lotus plant.

The bud of the lotus plant one day rises above water and, orienting itself toward the sun, opens into a beautiful, immaculate flower. Even so does the bud of our innate potential for Buddhahood, which has its origin in our Buddha Nature, gradually rise above the water of worldliness and, orienting itself toward the Eternal, open into the flower of enlightenment.

Note that while drinking in the golden radiance of the sun, the lotus remains firmly rooted in the mud of the world. And from its flower develop seeds, some of which will survive and themselves grow into beautiful flowering lotus plants. Similarly, our spiritual training takes the seeming opposites of worldly life (the “mud”) and enlightenment (the “flower”) and fuses both into seeds of the Dharma which are scattered all around for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Because of its beauty, we tend to regard the flower as the most important part of the lotus. However, as Rev Master Jiyu relates in "How to Grow a Lotus Blossom," in our spiritual life, we must keep our focus on the “stem,” which is our spiritual training, rather than the “flower,” which is enlightenment. For just as the stem of the lotus enables the lotus plant to grow up from the mud and eventually flower, so our training makes it possible for enlightenment to manifest out of the mud of human suffering and confusion.

In the symbolic representation of the body, the lotus flower is at the top of the array of symbols. This position corresponds to the position of the head on the body. This symbolizes the awakening of our mind to the highest Truth. It is also helpful to think of the flower as rising above the head since this spiritual awakening transcends the confinement of understanding things just with our head.

THE KNOT OF ETERNITY

The red symbol on the bottom of the column of symbols is called the “Knot of Eternity.” It has neither beginning nor end. Similarly, the Eternal has neither beginning nor end. Therefore, this symbol represents the beginningless and endless wisdom of the Eternal.

Wise discernment—an aspect of the wisdom represented by the Knot of Eternity—enables us to make wise use of the conditions of worldly life. This requires an active filtering of that which is spiritually beneficial from that which is spiritually harmful. This active filtering is an essential part of the process of spiritual conversion. In its deeper meaning, the Knot of Eternity represents deep inner knowledge—a knowing with our “blood and bones.” This intuitive knowledge precedes, and is more fundamental than, any knowing of our brain: it is prajna (pra = prior, or before; jna = knowing). Prajna is the wisdom of meditation and faith.

In our body, the intestines absorb the nutrients in our food and then package up the waste for elimination. Spiritually, the karma that accumulates and is waiting to be cleansed and converted tends to build up as spiritual blocks in the intestines. The Knot of Eternity represents the process in which dark and sludgy ignorance is filtered and converted so that it is enlightened—becoming wisdom.

THE FISH

In the symbolic representation of the spiritual nature of the human body, the two fish represent our two lungs. It is said that fish never sleep, and perhaps this is why they are used to represent the lungs, which also never rest. The spiritual process of re-harmonization of our karma with the Eternal can be likened to the physical assimilation process that take place in the lungs, where carbon dioxide is replaced by oxygen: in the process of spiritual re-harmonization, we offer up (release) our confused karma, so that the purity of the flow of the Eternal's Compassion and Wisdom can be taken in and replace it. Like our breathing, the training that makes this re-harmonization possible is an ongoing process: as Rev. Master Jiyu explains in How to Grow a Lotus Blossom, in training we continually “go in and out”—turning within in pure meditation, and then going out into daily activity. And this process can be compared with the continual process of inhalation and exhalation.

THE CONCH

Between the lotus flower and the two fish is the conch shell. The conch shell represents the throat, where our larynx is located—the place from which our voice emanates. The horn-like sound that can be produced by blowing through a conch shell (or “shell horn”), can be likened to the “Voice of the Eternal”, as it is a pure and powerful sound that resounds throughout the world. Likewise, when our karmic blocks are being converted and their inherent purity becomes apparent, our voice and speech will become a vehicle for the Voice of the Eternal that reverberates into the hearts of others. “Giving voice to the Dharma” is an important phrase in Buddhist scriptures. In its wider meaning, this phrase not only applies to our speech but to all our actions of body, speech and mind as well. It is through the purity of our intention, speech and deed that the purity of the Dharma can manifest in this world and become accessible to others.

THE JADE CENTER

Beneath the conch, and between the fish, is an emerald green area, the “jade palace,” which represents the hara. The hara is the upper abdominal area. In Buddhism, the hara is thought to be the place where our spiritual Center dwells. Jade was regarded as the most precious stone in ancient China and was known as the “essence of heaven and earth.” It represents purity and moral integrity. Because of its hardness, it also represents That which is indestructible, eternal. These are all qualities of the Buddha Nature. The term “jade palace” suggests a dwelling place, in this case the dwelling place of the Buddha Nature. It implies the presence of the Buddha Nature within every being. This presence has always been there and always will be there: It is our very innate True Nature. We are born with the Buddha Nature and so we have the potential for Buddhahood. And because of this, we can turn to the Buddha Nature and listen to It in meditation; we can be guided and helped by It in our training. And it is by our very meditation and training that we allow It to manifest fully into the lotus blossom of enlightenment.

THE GREAT OCEAN

Although it is not generally regarded as a symbol, the blue field behind the stack of symbols can be thought of as the Great Ocean of the Unborn. For our training and our life do not take place in a vacuum. In fact, our life is completely embedded in the Great Ocean of the Unborn. Whether we know it or not, we are an integral part of It, and we are always loved, nurtured, prompted and supported by It. We can always trust It, take refuge in It, and train so as to live in harmony with It.