Monastery imagery
One of the most predominate elements of the imagery of these scriptures is the use of imagery relating to the monastic life. Many of the scriptures are specifically suited for those who have already taken Buddhist studies as their vocation. In other words, many of the scriptures are intended for monks who will study and meditate seriously on every line. The temple imagery is completed by descriptions of the sort of life one should live in order to maximize the natural aptitude for enlightenment.
Enlightenment and trickery
In order to properly analyze the mysterious passages of scripture which regard enlightenment, one should remember that for some, enlightenment is a deep passion. That makes the imagery more evident. Buddhist monks are notoriously mischievous and humorous in their teaching, and many of the scriptures celebrate that counter-intuitive element. One of the first jokes of enlightenment is that you can get it from someone else. The scriptures celebrate the divine nature of the soul and the complete aspect of it. Enlightenment is treated as an abstract deity whose face does not betray either happiness or sadness, so that the symbology of Buddhism is literally imagery pertaining to enlightened human consciousness.
Hindu imagery
Western readers will probably be more familiar with Abrahamic religions, so perhaps an analog will be helpful. In the same way that Christianity is essentially unique from Judaism, it is also contained within the Jewish conception of reality, to a certain degree. The New Testament frequently refers to the Old so that Christianity is similar to Judaism. These scriptures do exactly that with many Hindu figures and gods. Some of the Buddhist scriptures teach about cosmology which is derived very clearly from Hinduism, so that Hindu imagery haunts the texts. The Buddhist way of viewing the world essentially implies a certain attitude toward Hinduism and the nature of that mythology.
Transcendentalism
The scriptures use abstract constructions to help elaborate the reader's imagination. As the reader strives to memorize the overwhelming complexity of the Buddhist metaphysic (there are transcendent layers of reality in Buddhist philosophy), they also approximate a more simple and clear type of appreciation for reality. The transcendentalism of Buddhism is designed to expand the mind for a more accurate and intricate experience of reality, through which moments mystical religious breakthroughs become more frequent, more potent, and more likely to occur. This transcendentalism has similarities to forms of naturalistic mysticism, because many of the transcendental exercises involve concentration on life's nature—like flowers. Flowers are an important symbol for transcendentalism in Buddhist scriptures.
