Update on the Ankh Symbol

After considering the two dimensionality of the lower part of the Ankh, being a coordinate system of Consciousness on the vertical axis and subjective distortions of discriminative thought on the horizontal axis, I was encouraged in the simplicity by which such a coordinate system could describe the degree of one’s divergence from the Path, as a Cartesian coordinate system defines the position of a point. However, I was perplexed at the confusion entailed in the descriptions of the axis themselves. Then a few weeks ago after attending a meditation session and Sutra class at the Chan monastery, I discussed with the Shifu the significance of the Three Poisons of Buddhism, being Ignorance, Anger and Greed.

It had occurred to me while listening to a story of one of the patriarchs of Chan (Zen) Buddhism that anger and greed were but manifestations (or discriminations made) of the same root, being Desire. That is, one only hates or is angered by something because they do not desire it and one is only greedy because they do desire something. Hence, Anger and Greed just represent opposite polarities of a single Klesha - Desire. My Shifu concurred and we discussed further how it was the taming of Desire and the eradication of Ignorance that lead to enlightenment, the Bodhi mind and Nirvana.  

Reflecting again on the Ankh, I saw clearly that the horizontal coordinate system of the lower part of the Ankh was really nothing other than the positive and negative expressions of Desire defined on an axis centred around a zero point of total detached compassion and unconditional love. In further consideration it can be observed that the Kleshas are nothing other than descriptions, or discriminative distinctions of the degree of divergence (left or right, positive or negative, more or less) from this state of detached compassion.

The vertical axis of the lower portion of the figure is seen to represent, therefore, the spectrum of Ignorance; total ignorance at the bottom, rising in degrees of increasing wisdom to the perfection of wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā in Sanskrit) at the top.

I have updated the descriptive elements of the Ankh with this revised definition of the axes as shown below.

 



In doing so, I also note that curving inward of the extremities of the cross suggest a motion or movement back towards the point of emergence from the creative principle, or zero point, in both horizontal and vertical directions. You will observe also that I have marked this gateway point with a circle to identify the target of our existential development.

This might tweak some form a recognition in your memory of having seen this conglomerate of symbolism before and if you are wondering where, I’ll point out that this is very similar to the Celtic Cross with the circular focal form centered on the vertex of the cross. It is intriguing to contemplate the possible historical connections between the Egyptian Ankh, the Celtic Cross and the Buddhist Path to enlightenment, or the intelligence that may have devised such symbolism. For my part, I see a great tool for stimulating the memory when the weight of material concerns cloud the meaning of life.
 

May we all dispel our ignorance and balance our desires and discriminative thoughts.

Namaste.

Edit: I have been plagued by a concern over the use of Desire as a label for the horizontal axis and have been motivated to understand that Desire itself is not the root of the distortions of subjectivity and discriminative thought that give rise to the subjective kleshas. Instead, the root is the attachment to objects of form, which arise through conceptualisation and discriminative thinking. To extend my explanation above, one is not only greedy or angry because of their desire or repulsion for the object of attention, but because they are attached to the subjective form that object holds for them. Therefore, the horizontal axis is better termed the Spectrum of Attachment to reflect this clinging to notions of discriminative preferences and conceptualisations. This is also very consistent with Buddhist terminology and teachings. I have updated the diagram to reflect this change.

Now we can contrast this symbolic description of The Path provided in the Ankh directly with what is described didactically in the Heart Sutra, observing the consistency:

Therefore, O Sariputra, it is because of his non-attainmentness [non-attachment] that a Bodhisattva, through having relied on the Perfection of Wisdom, dwells without thought-coverings [conceptualisations]. In the absence of thought-coverings he has not been made to tremble, he has overcome what can upset, and in the end he attains to Nirvana.

-          The Heart Sutra