Buddhist flag

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Buddhist flag

The Buddhist flag is a flag designed to symbolise Buddhism. It was designed in 1880 by the Colombo Committee, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, composed of Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera (chairman), Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera, Don Carolis Hewavitharana (father of Anagarika Dharmapala), Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (maternal grandfather of Anagarika Dharmapala), William de Abrew, Charles A. de Silva, Peter de Abrew, H. William Fernando, N. S. Fernando and Carolis Pujitha Gunawardena (secretary).

Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, an American journalist founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, later made suggestions for modifying it, which were adopted. It was first hoisted in 1885 in Sri Lanka and is a symbol of faith and peace.

Colors

The five colours of the flag represent the colours of the aura that emanated from the body of the Buddha when he attained Enlightenment:

Blue: Loving kindness, peace and universal compassion
Yellow: The Middle Path - avoiding extremes, emptiness
Red: The blessings of practice - achievement, wisdom, virtue, fortune and dignity
White: The purity of Dharma - leading to liberation, outside of time or space
Orange: The Buddha's teachings - wisdom