Wheel of life

In the dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism), the wheel of life, wheel of dharma, wheel of law, or wheel of existence is a mandala or symbolic representation of samsara, the continuous cycle of birth, life, death. One is liberated from this endless cycle of rebirth when enlightenment, nirvana, moksha, or samadhi is reached.

The wheel is usually shown as eight-spoked. As can be seen in the two images at right, the wheel of life may be depicted either simply or very elaborately within the art of these faiths.

In Unicode, the wheel of life is called the "wheel of dharma" and represented as U+2638 (☸).

Names of the wheel of life in Sanskrit

The symbol is also known as chakra from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" (not to be confused with the Hindu use of the same word to refer to energy nodes in the body — cf. chakra).

In the Indian Mahayana Buddhism scriptural language of Sanskrit, the wheel of life is called Bhavachakra.

The wheel of life in Buddhism

The wheel of life is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddhist wheels of life, often placed in the jaws of Yama the lord of death, depicts the Six Realms of Existence:

1. Human Realm
2. Animal Realm
3. Hell Realm
4. Realm of the Hungry Ghosts
5. Reals of the Jealous Gods or Titans (Asuras)
6. God Realm

In each realm a Bodhisattva of Compassion is depicted while in the center of the wheel a pig, snake, and rooster turn in a circle, each biting the next's tail, representing the greed, hatred, and delusion which create the realms. Different karmic actions contribute to one's metaphorical existence in different realms, or rather, different actions contribute to one's characteristics similarity to those of the realms. Leading from the human realm to the oustide of the wheel depicts the Buddhist path. (Epstein 1995, p.15–16)

Symbolism of the wheel

The symbolism of the dharma wheel is often given as:

• its overall shape is that of a circle, representing the perfection of the dharma teaching
• the hub stands for discipline, which is the essential core of meditation practice
• the eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism. They are said to have sharp edges to cut through ignorance.
• the rim, which holds the spokes, refers to mindfulness or samadhi which holds everything together.

Transmission to different countries

The dharma wheel can also refer to the dissemination of the dharma teaching from country to country. In this sense the dharma wheel began rolling in India, then arrived in China, and then to Korea, etc.

Progressive development of Vajrayana Buddhism

Tantric Buddhists also use the term "turning of the dharma wheel" to refer to the progressive development of Buddhism which culminates in their school. According to this image:

• The first turning of the dharma wheel refers to Gautama Buddha's original teaching, in particular the Four Noble Truths which describes the mechanics of attachment, desire, suffering, and liberation via the Eightfold Path.
• The second turning refers to the teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom sutra, a foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism.
• The third turning refers to the teaching of the Mahavairocana Sutra, a foundational text of Tantric Buddhism.

Doctrine of Three Wheels

The Doctrine of Three Wheels is Buddha's teaching that the dharma wheel must turn three times for a student to understand the dharma: once for hearing, again for understanding, and finally for internalizing.

See also

• Buddhist symbolism
• Kalachakra
• wheel of time

Reference

• Epstein, Mark (1995). Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective. BasicBooks. ISBN 0465039316.

External links

• The Wheel of Life – Aesthetics of Suffering and Salvation