Our Emblem
The emblem of United Buddhist Church Inc has several distinct aspects which collectively embody the vision and mission of our organization. First and foremost you will notice a purple theme throughout the emblem, which represents the majesty of both the Buddhist tradition and our mission of transmitting the Dharma to a new generation of practitioners.
Around the emblem the words "United Buddhist Church" appear, serving to represent the Western world, where the Dharma has been transplanted and is now flourishing.
Inside of the emblem, the background is that of a vast, open blue sky in gradient form which is done to imply that cultivation is gradual and continual, as well as to give the convey the image of the sky as being reflected in a mirror, thus gradual cultivation and too sudden and continual clarity- the great round mirror of tathagatagarba (Buddha Nature) reflecting in an instant, the nature of the sky, holding it entirely without attaching. The mirrored sky represents the boundlessness of heart-mind and sunyata itself (the Chinese logograph used to transliterate the Sanskrit work sunyata means "sky", especially its vastness). The setting sun in the sky, represents the passing of Eastern wisdom to the Western world (just as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West).
Set under the open sky is an orange flame engulfing a seated, meditating Buddha silhouette. The silhouette is meditating to present meditation, or dhyana as the core of our practice, which manifest the realization of Buddhist teachings- stillness at the core of our seemingly ever changing and spontaneous world. Perhaps more obviously, the flame-engulfed figure pays homage to the Bodhisattva path, in representing the Great Master Thích Quảng Đức whom famously self immolated to bring attention to the plight of his people in the 1960's. His act was one of total giving of self in the service of others, which is our dharma heritage. The flame too represents the golden yellow robes of a monk- to wear the robe of liberation is to be amidst the suffering of our world which is "on fire" in service of all beings which is the heart of our practice.
At the core of the meditating figure is a dharmachakra or dharma wheel, whose eight spokes represent the eightfold path of moksha (liberation) given to us by Buddha Shakyamuni. Noticeably, four spokes protrude to give homage to the whole of the teaching of the Four Noble Truths as the fundamentals at the core of our practicing- the wheel is in red to symbolize the fundamental teachings as the lifeblood of our practice.
Around the emblem the words "United Buddhist Church" appear, serving to represent the Western world, where the Dharma has been transplanted and is now flourishing.
Inside of the emblem, the background is that of a vast, open blue sky in gradient form which is done to imply that cultivation is gradual and continual, as well as to give the convey the image of the sky as being reflected in a mirror, thus gradual cultivation and too sudden and continual clarity- the great round mirror of tathagatagarba (Buddha Nature) reflecting in an instant, the nature of the sky, holding it entirely without attaching. The mirrored sky represents the boundlessness of heart-mind and sunyata itself (the Chinese logograph used to transliterate the Sanskrit work sunyata means "sky", especially its vastness). The setting sun in the sky, represents the passing of Eastern wisdom to the Western world (just as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West).
Set under the open sky is an orange flame engulfing a seated, meditating Buddha silhouette. The silhouette is meditating to present meditation, or dhyana as the core of our practice, which manifest the realization of Buddhist teachings- stillness at the core of our seemingly ever changing and spontaneous world. Perhaps more obviously, the flame-engulfed figure pays homage to the Bodhisattva path, in representing the Great Master Thích Quảng Đức whom famously self immolated to bring attention to the plight of his people in the 1960's. His act was one of total giving of self in the service of others, which is our dharma heritage. The flame too represents the golden yellow robes of a monk- to wear the robe of liberation is to be amidst the suffering of our world which is "on fire" in service of all beings which is the heart of our practice.
At the core of the meditating figure is a dharmachakra or dharma wheel, whose eight spokes represent the eightfold path of moksha (liberation) given to us by Buddha Shakyamuni. Noticeably, four spokes protrude to give homage to the whole of the teaching of the Four Noble Truths as the fundamentals at the core of our practicing- the wheel is in red to symbolize the fundamental teachings as the lifeblood of our practice.