Iconography

The mantra on the front is a 6-syllable mantra with 2 syllables added at the end: OM MANI PADME HUM OM MA. The final OM MA adds a personal commitment to the main mantra. Below the mantra is a tiger in a bamboo forest, with waves of thought on a blue background. The tiger symbolizes unconditional confidence, disciplined awareness, kindness & modesty.  It is relaxed, yet energized, resting in a gentle state of being that bespeaks a natural sense of satisfaction & fulfillment which refers to the state of enlightenment. The tiger's confidence is derived from its dominance over its environment.
     The trunk's top has mountain valleys bridged with rainbows.  Floating in the space above the mountains is the Cintamani, bordered on each side by a pair of elephant tusks. Grass also floats towards heaven from the leading edge of the rainbows. The rainbows signify the happiness that comes from following the Cintamani.  Also pictured are the jewels which in Buddhism symbolize the importance of teaching for the enlightened mind.  Grass is a symbol of long life.  Because grass is highly resilient, it is believed to be immortal.  Therefore, it proclaims the end of samsara, the successive death & rebirth of all beings.  It usually takes a long time to overcome samsara, & a longer lifespan will allow greater progress in moving towards enlightenment within a given cycle.  The tusks shown on the top represent an elephant. The elephant projects a calm majesty, much like the Chakravartin Buddha's strengths of mind, boundless aspiration, intention, effort, & analysis. The elephant's task is to defeat the armies of all enemies, & he does so in the water & on land throughout the cosmos.
     The sides have a full lotus above a rainbow.  The lotus is an important Buddhist motif since images of the Buddha & other important deities often are seen seated on a lotus throne.  The growth of the lotus, its roots in mud & growing through water to emerge above the surface as a beautiful plant, is seen as an analogy of the soul’s path from the mud of materialism to the air of enlightenment.  Just as the lotus blossom rises above the mud and is beautiful, so must you raise your thinking with pure, clean thoughts that are noble.  Then, you also will be beautiful.