While looking up Dharma Logo’s this morning on Google, I came across a Buddhist symbol, called a Dharmachakra, or Dharma wheel.

The Dharma, is the teachings of the Buddha, so then I think it would be safe to say that the Dharma Initiative is a project intended to teach the beliefs of the Buddha.

I have a few pieces of evidence to support this fact.

Firstly, the Dharma Logo, it is a Dharmachakra, or Dharma wheel. The original Dharmachakra’s were circles within circles, much like the logo of Oceanic Airlines. Other Dharmachakra’s were spoked wheels, sometimes with what appeared to be beads or balls extending beyond the wheel, much again like the Oceanic logo.

Modern day Dharma wheels have 4 spokes symbolizing the 4 jinas, or moments in life; or 8 spokes, or octagonal in shape(like the Dharma logo) symbolizing the Noble EightFold Path of life.

Dharmachakra’s were sometimes placed on a statue of 4 lions facing the 4 cardinal directions. The statues of lions depicted the lions realistically with only 4 visible toes(like the statue foot on the island).

Another point about the 4 toes, in Buddhist beliefs, the dragon, when traveling east from their original place of existence, LOST a toe, and when traveling west, gained a toe. The further the dragon traveled, the more toes he LOST or gained. Korean Dragons have 4 toes, and Japanese Dragons 3 toes.

The Lotus flower, another Buddhist symbol, represents the Noble EightFold Path in life and the Eight principal acolyte deities of the central deity on the mundalas. When this flower is presented in a cup or on a tray, it is a symbol of homage to the person that it is presented to. Also, Kate was wearing a dress with flowers that resembled the Lotus in the first three episodes of this season.

Another Buddhist symbol, the Ritual Bell, can be 8, 12, 16, 18 or 22 finger widths in height. 8 Lotus petals on the bell represent the 4 mothers and 4 goddesses.

The Buddha Wheel can be seen in many places on the show, there are pictures of it all over the web where people compare it to the Oceanic Logo. Now we know why.

The Buddha symbolic colors and what they represent are:

• blue-Universal Compassion
• yellow-The Middle Path
• red-Blessings
• white-Purity and Liberations
• orange-Wisdom

The colors of the Oceanic Logo are red and blue. I don’t know how significant that may be, if at all. But you should try to keep an eye out for the use of these colors in other parts of the show, especially in symbols and icons.

Buddhist numerology:

• 42-the 42 peaceful deites
• 108-the number of beads on a Buddhist Mala
• 16-Arhants, whom the Buddha entrusted the care of his teachings during his para nirvana
• 16-Causes of premature death
• 16-Finger widths of the height of the Ritual Bell
• 8-Worldly Dharma’s
• 8-Auspicious symbols
• 8-Magnificent offerings
• 8-common abilities shared by all humans
• 8-freedoms
• 8-sub-continents
• 8-classes of Gods and Demons
• 4-Noble truths
• 4-Thoughts that lead the mind to Dharma practice
• 4-activities: pacifying, increasing, MAGNETIZING, subjugating
• 4-Meanings of Magnetizing: Generosity, uttering kind words, giving appropriate teachings and consistency in word and deed.