What is the symbol found on the chest of many of the Buddha statues?
This is a “svastika,” an ancient symbol found in several different cultures. In ancient Babylonia, it was used to depict the Sun’s movement. It is also found in ancient India as a symbol of life. In Buddhism it signifies purity, wisdom and propitiousness. The symbol should not be confused with the Nazi symbol, which is reversely tilted, and was used by Hitler to represent death. This is one of the thirty-two marks of Buddha. It is the result of Buddha’s eons of practice. It is a sign of propitiousness, purity and completeness. We are reminded of Buddha’s infinite wisdom and compassion when we see this symbol. The turning motion represents Buddha’s great power perpetually moving, manifesting and extending to all directions to deliver the infinite sentient beings.
