Chinese Buddha- and how they symbolize with other Buddhas

CHINESE BUDDHA AND HOW THEY SYMBOLISE WITH OTHER BUDDHAS
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Introduction
Many religious orientations in the world usually have symbols. The symbols may appear like ordinary objects to the common person, yet they hold deep religious meanings, and one can understand them only in the spirit of the phenomenological impressions of the religion. Just like those other religions, Buddha has its symbols. The Chinese Buddha also has symbols. In this paper, there is a discussion of the symbols of Buddha around the world and those of the Chinese Buddha. There is the realization of many similarities in the symbols, yet there are still some differences owing to the general differences that occur in the phenomenology of religion when there is an interchange of the places which present a change in the culture.
Buddha symbols
In the practice of Buddha all over the world, there is an accompaniment of various symbols. The most common of these symbols include the lotus flower. This symbolic aspect represents purity and enlightenment. It is the symbol that serves to remind the observers of the Buddha religion to maintain the purity of heart in everything that they undertake the lotus flower also signifies the enlightenment concerning the faith which each member of the Buddha community ought to hold. There is much connection of enlightenment with the father founder of the Buddha. “There is the holding of the belief that; the symbols in Buddha were presented to the founder, Buddha, by God when he brought enlightenment to him.

” There is the symbol of the endless knot commonly referred to as mandala which represents eternal harmony. The practice of the Buddha faith, there is much value to peace. There is the encouragement of the members to uphold harmony and peace in their existence. Although there is the preaching of peace in many religious, it is essential to note that there is evidence of much holding dear to harmony for the Buddha community all over the world.
In the phenomenological articulation of symbols in religions, there are usually the outer elements which represent a profound connotation of an aspect that the faithful hold dear. The parasol or umbrella is a symbol of Buddha practice all over the world. In the general practicality, an umbrella provides protection against things such as rain or the sun. There is the provision of enjoyment by use of the umbrella. The umbrella in Buddha, therefore, represents protection from suffering as well as destructive forces by the religion. “When one is in the practice of the faith, there is the realization of protection against all harmful effects and suffering.”
Going against the stipulations of the religion would render one vulnerable to suffering just like one would be exposed to sun or rainfall when they step outside the shade of the umbrella. The banner of victory is another symbol in the Buddha all over the world. This symbol represents the victory of Buddha over the demon Mara. This demon, in agreement with the Buddha faith, accounts for the evils of passion, lust, and pride. The symbol, therefore, serves to encourage the Buddhists to uphold purity when faced with the temptations of passion, lust, and pride. There is an encouragement of shying away from such evils just as Buddha overcame the demon.
Chinese Buddha
For one to appreciate the twists of Buddhism in China, it is essential to note that the origin of the Buddha religion is India. There continued to be a spread of the Buddhism to many parts of the world, and eventually, the religion arrived in China. By the time it arrived, in China, there and been an extensive engagement of the Chinese with Confucianism as a religion which had already shaped their values and concepts. When religion gets practice in a different setting, there is bound to be differences emanating from the background culture of the new area. There ought to be alterations in some of the phenomenological aspects as there is an intermingling of the basics of the religion with the already existing different culture.
“Despite the embrace of Buddhism, there is the appearance of much difference in the values which make the Chinese Buddhists have reservations towards some of the symbols.” Confucianism had created instilled in the Chinese the spirit of community as opposed to individualism which gets advocation in the Buddhism. In the Chinese Buddhism, there are reservations towards enlightenment as presented by the lotus flower symbol. This aspect emanates from the orientations of the Chinese towards community and not individualism which promotes introspection. The Chinese Buddhists consider enlightenment as promoting selfishness because they have directions of self-understanding through relationships and not quiet retrospection as the world Buddhism encourages.
Conclusion
There is the existence of many symbols in the Buddha religion in the world over. The symbols have deep meanings which hold the Buddhists together in their practice. There are alterations in the Chinese Buddhism when it comes to the symbols. There is the existence of some reservations. The reservations emanate from the prior culture which had been from the influence of Confucianism that had much attitude towards communism as opposed to individualism.
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