TI TSANG P'USA
"NAMO TI TSANG WANG P'USA" or
"NAMO KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA YA".
Images of the Buddhas and Bodhisat vas are recognised by the
symbols that they are associated with. Each of these symbols
have significant meanings which most people are unaware of.
e Khakkhara, or Ringed Staff, which Ti Tsang holds is not
only meant to warn small and crawling creatures of his approach
so as to avoid stepping on them but also to inform people of his
presence through the jingling caused by the rings. Often a trav-
el ing monk on a pilgrimage has to stop at homes to seek alms
and since he does not wish to speak unnecessarily, he usual y an-
nounces his arrival by shaking his sounding staff.
e Khakkhara is often a wooden staff capped with metal loops
or crotchets and rings which are either four, six or twelve in
number. e Four-ringed staff is carried by a monk who has
perceived the Four Noble Truths of Suffering, the Cause of Suf-
fering, the Cessation of Suffering, and the Path leading to the
Cessation of Suffering. e Six-ringed staff belongs to a Bodhi-
sat va who is constantly practising the Six Paramitas, while the
Twelved-ringed staff is held by a Pratyeka Buddha who has real-
ised the Twelve-fold Links of Causation.
As a result of Ti Tsang P'usa having made this promise to
Sakyamuni Buddha: "I will fulfil your instructions to continue
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