Bell and Dorje

The bell and dorje are the standard ritual implement of Buddhism and serve universally in Tibetan Buddhism. The bell (ghanta) symbolizes wisdom, and the dorje (vajra) represents compassion and skillful means. Together, they represent the unity of these two most important aspects of enlightenment.

During meditation or a ceremony, practitioners ring a bell in their left hand to purify the mind and a dorje in their right hand to represents the unbreakable nature of enlightenment. These tools are important in rituals and show the balance between wisdom and compassion in Buddhist practice.