Do Buddhists Have Totems Or Symbolic Animals?

[Robroy]

I'm reading a book with mainly Burmese Buddhist characters, (White Butterflies by Colin McPhedran).

In one scene a character is told by a monk to choose an image (person, Buddha, animal) on which to meditate.

He chooses a kingfisher (because he'd watched one as a kid, & he fell in love with it).

Meditating on the kingfisher helps him to let go of hate, anger, etc.

Is this common in SE Asian Buddhism?

What exactly is the animal/bird/image supposed to signify for the student?

[Brucenkhamen]

I've never heard of such a thing, sounds like the author has a vivid imagination.

For concentration meditation there are forty objects listed in scripture, nothing like imagining an animal see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamma%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADh%C4%81na

For insight meditation which is probably much more common in Burma using imaginary or conceptual objects isn't part of the practise and is discouraged.

[Robroy]

The monk who gave the instruction was a senior Burmese monk named U Endika. He was actually the engineer who'd rebuilt the Ava Bridge across the Irrawaddy - by now retired from the world & serving as a monk.

The instruction was to meditate on the kingfisher as a way of dissolving hate, fear, etc.

I just thought others might have heard of this practice.

[lungmi]

I only know about turtles, I know some older monks stay with a turtle. Symbol is longlife, peaceful, big carapace and wisdom.

[khaowong1]

Yes, I've known some monks who use turtles and some who use an image of a snake. Trees are good as are flowers. even a rock. But most monks I know use a Buddha statue or religous picture. I had some interesting results using a Hanuman statue once. but normally I stay with my breathing.