Page 128 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

and nightmares. ose who have firm faith in him can easily

receive his protection. With faith one need to recite any of these

simple prayers:

“N T T W P’” or

“N K B Y”.

Images of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are recognised by the

symbols that they are associated with. Each of these symbols

have significant meanings which most people are unaware of.

e Khakkhara, or Ringed Staff, which Ti Tsang holds is not

only meant to warn small and crawling creatures of his approach

so as to avoid stepping on them but also to inform people of his

presence through the jingling caused by the rings. Often a trav-

elling monk on a pilgrimage has to stop at homes to seek alms

and since he does not wish to speak unnecessarily, he usually an-

nounces his arrival by shaking his sounding staff.

e Khakkhara is often a wooden staff capped with metal loops

or crotchets and rings which are either four, six or twelve in

number. e Four-ringed staff is carried by a monk who has

perceived the Four Noble Truths of Suffering, the Cause of Suf-

fering, the Cessation of Suffering, and the Path leading to the

Cessation of Suffering. e Six-ringed staff belongs to a Bodhi-

sattva who is constantly practising the Six Paramitas, while the

Twelved-ringed staff is held by a Pratyeka Buddha who has real-

ised the Twelve-fold Links of Causation.

As a result of Ti Tsang P’usa having made this promise to

Sakyamuni Buddha: “I will fulfil your instructions to continue

