Endless knot

The endless knot or eternal knot is a symbolic found in Tibet and Mongolia. The motif is used in Tibetan Buddhism, and may also be found in Chinese art as one of the .

Interpretations

The endless knot has been described as "an ancient symbol representing the interweaving of the Spiritual Path, the flowing of Time and Movement within That Which is Eternal. All existence, it says, is bound by time and change, yet ultimately rests serenely within the Divine and the Eternal." Various interpretations of the symbol are:

* The inter-twining of and .
* Interplay and interaction of the opposing forces in the world of manifestation, leading to their union, and ultimately to harmony in the universe.
* The mutual dependence of religious doctrine and secular affairs.
* The union of and .
* The inseparability of emptiness and dependent origination, the underlying reality of existence.
* Symbolic of knot symbolism in linking ancestors and omnipresence and the magical ritual and meta-process of binding
* Since the knot has no beginning or end it also symbolizes the infinite wisdom of the . See mystic knot.

Drawing an endless knot

Plot the ''A'', ''B'', ''C'', ''D'' of ''ABCD''. Plot ''E'', the midpoint of line segment ''AB''. Plot ''F'', the midpoint of line segment ''BC''. Plot ''G'', the midpoint of line segment ''CD''. Plot ''H'', the midpoint of line segment ''DA''.

Plot ''I'', the midpoint of segment ''AE''. Plot ''J'', the midpoint of ''EB''. Plot ''K'', the midpoint of ''BF''. Plot ''L'', the midpoint of ''FC''. Plot ''M'', the midpoint of ''CG''. Plot ''N'', the midpoint of ''GD''. Plot ''O'', the midpoint of ''DH''. Plot ''P'', the midpoint of ''HA''.

Draw line segment ''AI''. Draw line segment ''IN'' but with leaving a gap in its middle. Draw line segment ''NG''. Draw line segment ''GE'' but leaving a pair of gaps at 1/4 and 3/4 of the way between ''G'' and ''E''. Draw line segment ''EJ''. Draw line segment ''JM'' but leaving a gap in its middle. Draw line segment ''MC''. Draw line segment ''CL''. Draw line segment ''LO'' but leaving a pair of gaps at 1/4 and 3/4 of the way between ''L'' and ''O''. Draw line segment ''OH''. Draw line segment ''HF'' but leaving a gap in its middle. Draw line segment ''FK''. Draw line segment ''KP'' but leaving a pair of gaps at 1/4 and 3/4 of the way between ''K'' and ''P''. Draw line segment ''PA''.

Erase points ''D'' and ''B'', and the drawing is done.

Endless knots in other cultures

Endless knots come as /mythological symbols have developed independently in various cultures. A well-known example is the various Celtic knots.

The interlaced form of the unicursal hexagram of occultism is topologically equivalent to the Buddhist endless knot.