There are many different symbols of fortune in Tibetan
Buddhism. These symbols include the Eight Auspicious Signs, which is probably
the most well-known symbol of fortune. In addition, animals used in Buddhist
art and design are popular as fortune symbols.
The elephant is large and strong, but as a fortune symbol
the elephant represents mental and emotional strength and dependability. In
Buddhism the elephant is the symbol for intellectual prowess. As a
visualization tool, the gray elephant is said to represent the mind when one
begins to study Buddhism, wild and running to and fro without logic, and the
white elephant represents the Buddhist mind once it is well-trained and has
been formed by meditation. Culturally, the elephant is a symbol for fortune and
statues of elephants standing on coins are prevalent in many Asian countries.
And of course, one of the most important deities in Hinduism who is also
well-loved in Buddhism is Ganesh, who is an emanation of Avalokitesvara.
The Garuda is a bird who is known as the king of the birds.
An enemy of snakes, the Garuda protects from snakebite, and other poisons. The
Garuda appears in the form of a bird’s head with a human body. As a symbol, the
Garuda destroys jealousy and hate. When the Garuda expands his wings they
represent an infinite freedom of the mind. Untethered by hate or jealousy, the
mind can expand and encompass all things, and we can learn and grow.
The Lion is proud and majestic and strong. The lion travels
in a group and never alone. In Buddhism, the lion symbolizes the Bodhisattvas.
The lion is also a protector of the dharma. Statues and artwork of ‘snow lions’
permeate Tibetan Buddhism, although there are no lions living in Tibetan or
Nepal (though there are tigers living in Nepal. Snow lions in art are usually
white or blue. Lions are usually shown in pairs and are used for protection in
front of temples and monasteries.
The peacock
symbolizes wisdom in Buddhism. It is said that the peacock is able to eat
poison and turn that poison into good for those who practice dharma. The
peacock is likened to a bodhisattva because they can take the evil of the world
and transform it into good. Because the bodhisattva only cares for followers of
the dharma, and are themselves free of evil thoughts, they are able to
transform ugliness into good. By eating the poison in the world the peacock can
then transform that evil into something beautiful as shown in the beautiful
colors of their wings. Peacocks are often shown in pairs as a fortune animal.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the horse is symbolic of the energy we
put forth to study the dharma. The wind horse, also known as lungta, floats on
the wind with vigorous energy, and he can choose his path, just like we can
choose our path or direction when we practice Buddhism. The wind horse is one
of the most important symbols in Tibetan Buddhism, and it originally was a
symbol for the form of Tibetan Buddhism that is most closely related to
Shamanism, and was practiced by the people (Mi-cho- religion of humans). In Tibetan people use the wind horse in
their speech in daily life, and the phrase rlung rta dar ba which means
an increase in the wind horse, and it is used to describe a situation when
things are going well for someone, or they are having good luck. The wind horse
is shown on many prayer flags throughout Tibet and Nepal.
