Appreciation of Buddhist art

While meditating under a Bodhi tree in north India some 2600 years ago, an Indian Prince named Siddhartha Gautama awoke to the truth of existence, the nature of suffering and how to end it. He became known as the Buddha, or one who is awake. The remainder of his life was devoted to helping others awaken to their true nature and be free of suffering. Around 500 years after the death of the Buddha, the creation of works of art intended to celebrate the life of the Buddha and his teachings began. This tradition continues today and serves to inspire seekers in their quest for the truth.
Buddhist art has produced a complex range of expressive techniques for communicating the life story of the Buddha and the truths that he expounded. In temples, Buddhist art and in literature, one will come across a wide variety of Buddhist symbols whose meaning may not be immediately apparent unless a good deal of time has been spent in studying the life of the Buddha and his teaching.
Among the most common depictions are the wheel, the lotus, and the stupa, appearing in almost every Buddhist temple. These images serve as visual mantras and are contemplated by adherents of Buddhism in order to realize their deepest meaning. Presented in this article is a visual representation of eight of the most important of these symbols and a brief explanation of their meaning.