MANJI
Copyright
© 2003 James Deacon
The
Manji is an ancient and important spiritual symbol in Japanese
Buddhism.
Manji
(Sanscrit: svastika) represents the harmonious interplay
of the many opposites in life - heaven and earth, day and night,
etc.
The horizontal line unites light and darkness, while the perpendicular
line symbolically connects heaven and earth; and these two combined,
form a cross representing the universe in harmony beyond the limits
of time and space.
From this harmony comes the power that creates and nurtures all
things.
The
'trailing' lines at the ends of the cross represent the truth
that the universe and all things in it are in a perpetual state
of flux.
There
are two types of Manji - one a mirror image of the other.
The
'clockwise' Manji - with the 'trailing lines' running from the
ends of the central cross to the right (sometimes called 'Ura'
) - represents intellect and strength - the clarity of the 'Diamond
Realm' of esoteric Buddhism.
The
'anticlockwise' Manji -with the 'trailing lines' running from
the ends of the central cross to the left (sometimes called 'Omote')
- represents infinite mercy, or the love of Dharma which permeates
the universe and nurtures all things.
