The Badges
The 1" badge has been a punk, emo, hardcore, rock staple for as long as can be remembered... so it seemed logical to bring it to the Buddhist path as well. Each 1" badge—shown below a little larger for detail—displays an original artistic mash-up of Buddhist icons and symbols, bringing familiar and sacred images together to celebrate the modular and accessible make-up of Shakyamuni's teachings. At only $1 a pin, grab a few and give them to your friends and family... heck, give them to your enemies!
Kodo
This impactful saying is yet another Special Mission Badge for a good cause, this time our focus is homlessness inspired by our friend Adam over at Fly Like a Crow. Homeless Kodo wandered around Japan a long time ago teaching the his style of Dharma and blazing his own path by embracing the transient and never staying in one home or temple. The sales of this badge will go directly to FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals ready to settle down.
Punk-O-Thai
Now that is some Punk-Rock-N-Roll Enlightened One right there! Just could never get over the idea that Thai Buddha statues from the front looked like they all had killer mohawks, so this Badge makes that Punk dream a reality! OM! OM! OM! OM!
Greatful
Did you notice the misspelling there? Clever huh? You know what? You are great. "Oh Most Nobly Born," as so many sutras begin, you should be grateful of your greatness. Living a life of gratitude for being born as a human being is a noble life indeed. And for a life like that, you can be truly "greatful".
OMtism
A Special Mission Badge from our friend Jack at Sweep the Dust, Push the Dirt: These three little Buddhas with no mouths staring at a puzzle piece symbolize the repetition and quiet attention that can develop in girls and boys around age three with Autism. The puzzle piece represents the mystery of the disorder as well as the propensity for Autistic kids to favor puzzles due the game calling for solitary focus. We’re all just trying to keep quiet and figure things out aren’t we? But for those of us without Autism that’s made from the luxury of having the choice. The donations gathered by this Badge will go directly to the Organization for Autism Research. UPDATE: So far this Badge has gathered $100 for the OAR! Thanks to all!
Fire Mala
When artist and designer Ed Cross asked if he could collaborate with BuddhaBadges and donate his time and skills toward creating a new Badge for August, the internet shook in ten directions and showered pixels on everyone. We thank Ed for his amazing contribution: The Fire Mala, a blending of cleansing Tibetan Fire with the peaceful absorbtion counting a Mala can bring. Namaste, Ed!
Thick-n-Thin
Buddhism is steeped with a cast of characters both tall and wide, old and young, thick and thin. The Bodhisattvas and Buddhas that perpetuate the Dharma, like Hotei or Shakyamuni, illustrate the variety that life can take and that happiness can fulfill. So when asked, you can say "Yes, there was a Fat Buddha... and a Skinny One, Too!"
Merit Badge
Inspired by a Twitter conversation between the authors of Sweep the Dust, Push the Dirt and DigitalZendo, these two kind souls have been instrumental in one of the best months in BuddhaBadges history. We honor their belief and support with "The Merit Badge". If you get it, give it as a reward for a good deed. Don't keep it.
Fudo Myo
Destroyer of Delusion, Protector of Buddhism, Snarer of Demons, Remover of Ignorance: Is there anything this popular Japanese deity can't be? When asked, folks think he could be a BuddhaBadge, too! And now he is.
G-G-Gassho
One of the beautiful rituals in many Buddhist's daily life is the prostration and veneration of the image of the Buddha and his ilk through humbling bows. With palms raised around the world Buddhists meet and greet, in gassho, friends, family, and loved ones, both here and beyond.
Sunbhala
A really wonderful teacher has come and gone for us—and we're not speaking of THE TEACHER—but of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, guru of the amazing Shambhala Warrior Path of practice. In that lineage we learn of the Great Eastern Sun that never sets in any of us, and is always there to illuminate our awareness to the basic goodness that life has to offer.
Om = MC Squared
Believe it or not, although hundreds of years apart, Einstein and the Buddha were cut from the same intellectual cloth. For real! Search the internet for Einstein and Buddha and you'll quickly see that all the greatest thinker in Dharma discerned of the Universe was proven “relatively” true by one of history's greatest minds in Physics!
Daruma
The Daruma is a Japanese folk item that is a depiction of Bodhidharma, the Patriarch of Chinese Zen. Supposedly you get yourself a Daruma, make a wish and draw in his right eye. When the wish comes true, you fill in the other one! In keeping with tradition, we made his eyes nice and big so you can use a marker to draw in his eyes in hopes your wish will come true!
Construction of Om
“I Bow to the Jewel in the Lotus Flower”... guess what? You are the Jewel and your life is the Lotus Flower. As you unfold you should always remember that you have a right to be, as does everyone else, and that you are perfect just they way you are... you just need a little work. The journey is the destination, people, and the destination is the pay-off for a good journey.
Om Mani
Om is the omnipotent, omnipresent sound of all manifest existence. It is said to be the first syllable uttered by the universe when it began and it's vibration still radiates today. Here, the Indian-derived symbol lays comfortably on a Bodhisattva's lap as he sits in Lotus and gazes into a Mani jewel.
Akash Mudra
The Akash Mudra is seen all over Indian and Asian art and is known to be the hand position that centers your energy and nourishes your being. On top of a traditional Thai protection tattoo for travel, called and Sak Yant, and you are set for the day.
Gyan Mudra
The Gyan Mudra is an even more popular hand position, most notably seen in many statues of the Buddha and in meditation poses. It promotes clarity, joy, and widsom, and is mixed with another Thai Sak Yant of protection. How could you go wrong with that?
Chaos Dharma Wheel
The old punk rock Symbol of Chaos imposed upon the ancient Buddhist Wheel of Dharma... a visual interpretation of the seeming disorder of life being held together by the organizing aspect of the Dharma. Not too shabby.
Karma and Chaos
Karmic orchestration and chaotic disordianism meeting in the middle...ain't it always the way? This arrangement can be seen as a delicate merging of an unstoppable force and an unmovable object.
Breathe, it'll save your life
Breathe, baby, breathe... it'll save your life. Swear it. Give up breathing for a little bit and you'll see what we mean. Paying attention to the in and out of the breath can help keep your mind out of all sorts of troubles. When the going gets rough, just breathe, breathe, breathe.
Eyes of Om
Seen on every stupa in Nepal, the "Wisdom Eyes of the Buddha" see all. Overlapping an image of our favorite teacher, with the question mark looking curl dotted with an Om, this mixing of imagery can help one to remember their journey should always start with a look before the leap.
Amida
Amida Butsu, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Infinite Light, is the patron teacher of the Pure Land tradition. It is believed that by reciting his name again and again with a true belief in his vows you will be transported at your death to his Pure Land to recieve your Nirvanic training.
Black Lotus
The Lotus is seen as the ultimate symbol of the Path ot Enlightenment. It rises from the mud, through the tangle of pond weeds, to burst through the surface without a drop of water on it's petals. From that point it is forever blooming, with layer upon layer of petals revealing more unfolding aspects underneath.
Enso Wheel
The Enso is a Zen calligraphic image symbolizing enlightenment, elegance, entirety, and emptiness. It is the instantaneous moment of creativity and expression, and here we have it upon a Wheel of Dharma, or Dharmacakra, which symbolizes the Eight-Fold Path.
Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma was no joke. As the man who brought Zen to China, stories are told of him meditating until his legs fell off and his ecasping from his own grave. It is said that he spent 9 years staring at a wall in a cave meditating—depitcted in this badge—and when his eyes started to droop from fatigue, he ripped his eyelids off! A serious meditator indeed.
Dorje Wheel
The Dorje, or Vajra, is a Tibetan cermonial implement that symbolizes both the ability of a diamond to cut any substance but itself and the irresistable force of a thunderbolt. And when it is doubled, as in this badge, and then mixed with the Dharmacakra, how could ignorance stand a chance?
Silver Chenrezig
Chenrezig is the Tibetan Buddhist patron Bodhisattva of Compassion. Also knows as Avalokiteshvara in Southeast Asia and Guan-Yin in China and Japan, he is one of our favorites as well since he swore to never enter Nirvana until he helped every other sentient being in the Universe reach Enlightenment first. What a guy!
Sak Yant Gao Yord
This traditional Thai tattoo of protection, or Sak Yant, is known as Gao Yord. Usually tattooed right below the back of the neck, the "nine spires" and the magic word square with Khmer lettering all provide protection to the wearer on his path toward Enlightenment.
Avalokiteshvara
Who has eleven heads and one thousand arms? Avalokiteshvara the Bodhisattva of Compassion does, that's who! Not only does he slice through delusion, but he dices up ignorance! One of the most popular Bodhisattvas of the Mahayana, Avalokiteshvara's sworn duty is to hear the cries of the Universe and lend a helping hand every time.
Prayer Lotus
The lotus and the Tibetan script of the prayer "Om Mani Padme Hum" are thought to be so potent in Tibetan Buddhism that even the written symbols can pray for you! Hence Prayer Wheels, Prayer Flags, and stones with the prayer carved in to them are all seen throughout the culture. So ity can be said that by wearing this badge you'll have something praying for you all day!
Metta
Metta is the Brahma Vihara of Loving-Kindness. By practicing the four Brahma-Viharas, not only will this life be awesome, but your next will be too! By looking upon everyone you meet with a vibe of love and treating them with unconditional kindness, you are making the world a better place for everyone. Who could argue with that?
Karuna
Karuna is the Brahma Vihara of Compassion. By looking out into the world with a mind that knows there is suffering, you should make it your sworn duty to not turn a blind eye to anyone's problems, no matter how big or small. By actively reaching out and lending a helping hand, either by voluteering, donating, listening, or helping in any other way you can, you are practicing compassion.
Mudita
Mudita is the Brahma Vihara of Sympathetic Joy. This abiding means to be a congratulator, not a hater, even if you are down in the dumps and everything at this very moment may be lame for you. The ability to be happy for someone else's success while you are having a hard time is a great way of escaping the trap you may find yourself in and help another celebrate their achievements.
Upekkha
Upekkha is the Braham Vihara of Equanimity. Basically, this skill helps keep you at an even keel with the highs and lows of life. It's the Dalai Lama's principle "If it can be fixed, why worry? If it can't be fixed, why worry?" in action. Don't sweat it. It'll pass. Don't get too attached to it. It'll pass. All things come and go, and Upekkha helps you get used to the change.
Construction of Dharma
The are so many ways to enlightenment, exampled by the many different styles of tradition in the Buddhist Way. But the underlying structure of the teaching is always the same: be a good person, don't hurt anybody, don't sweat the small stuff, and remember — it's all small stuff. By making the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path a viable guideline for life you can't go wrong.
Negative Chenrezig
Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is a metamorphic fellow who can take the shape of anyone and anything that will help someone find their way on the Path. Believed to be near-invisible, many thangkas—or wall hangings—of him will be done in negative to depict his other-wordliness.
Just So You Know...
To cover the shipping costs we do charge 35 cents a badge, so if you buy two or more you are basically covering our shipping cost to you. Even if you don't need two badges, they make great little gifts to your pals!
Speaking of pals, BuddhaBadges uses PayPal for purchasing, but fear not: you don't need a PayPal account to purchase, they take basically everything. Except cash, since you can't shove dollars into your disc drive.
If you are shopping from outside of the U.S., they can be sent to you, but it'd be great if you bought 5 or more.
If you want to see where you are at with your shopping so far, you can see your shopping cart here:
