Buddhist Iconography

Lion's Roar

Lion’s Roar is an independent non-profit foundation whose mission is to communicate Buddhist wisdom and practices in order to benefit people’s lives and our society, and to support the development of Buddhism in the modern world.

We are grateful to Lion’s Roarfor graciously providing free access to our users to access their articles referenced in the MWE curricular framework.

Below is a list of the Learning Goals which link to Lion’s Roar content. Additionally, you can view many other Lion’s Roar resources (include articles MWE has reposted with permission) in our resource library.

  • 217EBuddhist Iconography
    Analyze Buddhist iconography and symbolism, and differentiate the characteristic visual elements associated with different Buddhist traditions.
  • 215EAstrology in Buddhist Cultures
    Compare and contrast astrological systems used in Buddhist cultures (Chinese/Tibetan and Western zodiacs) with Buddhist teachings on karma and self-determination; analyze how cultural worldviews influence self-perception and understanding of reality; and evaluate the relationship between traditional astrological beliefs and core Buddhist principles such as dependent origination and personal responsibility.
  • 214EBuddhist Cosmology
    Compare and contrast Buddhist cosmological narratives with at least two other creation stories (Abrahamic, indigenous, or scientific); analyze how different origin stories influence cultural worldviews and values; and evaluate the impact of cosmological beliefs on human behavior and environmental relationships.
  • 205EApproaches to Refuge in the Three Yanas
    Analyze the distinctive approaches to taking refuge across the three Buddhist vehicles, evaluate how different motivations (personal liberation, universal awakening, rapid transformation) shape refuge practices, and synthesize understanding of how the three jewels function as sources of protection across diverse Buddhist traditions.
  • 208ESukhavati Sutras
    Compare Pure Land Buddhism with other forms of Buddhism, analyzing how the practice of chanting Amitabha’s name serves both as devotion and meditation and how visualizing a perfect realm can inspire positive daily actions.
  • 124EEngaged Buddhists
    Analyze the work of exemplary, socially engaged Buddhists; implement their principles in daily life; and evaluate how modern engaged Buddhism aligns with the Buddha’s original teachings.
  • 112EMindful Consumption
    Analyze the food cycle, differentiating its causes, conditions, and effects. Evaluate how elements from the outer environment transform into the body’s inner elements through eating and drinking. Guide others in a practice of mindful consumption.
  • 109EBeing Peace
    Evaluate personal conduct and motivations through systematic self-reflection, analyzing alignment between inner development and outer engagement. Implement practices that cultivate genuine peace and non-aggression as foundations for authentic social action, demonstrating how contemplative self-awareness enhances the integrity and effectiveness of efforts to create beneficial change.
  • 100EDiligence and Optimism
    Differentiate between ordinary hope and authentic optimism in Buddhist practice; analyze how joyful effort (virya) transforms obstacles into opportunities for growth; and implement sustained diligent practice that maintains positive engagement with challenging tasks while cultivating realistic expectations based on dharmic principles.

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