Colours around the World

When Vaike Ruus was giving the lecture on the meaning of colours I was reminded of the way in which colours play a significant role in cultures and religions around the world. 'White' for instance is representative of the principles of purity, this view is shared with the majority of the world. In Buddhism, and consequently in predominantly Buddhist countries, the "pure light" is that which represents Nirvana, the highest achievement, which on the spectrum (white) contains All colours. In much of the Western world and also in Christianity, white is used to represent purity and righteousness, aspects which relate closely to the perceptions of Buddhists as well. The way these colours are seen by adherents of different faiths are influenced by the cultures in which they are born into and thus it becomes clear that there are indeed similarities in the way the world (of colour) is seen or perceived.

- Jassa