Wheel of Life Thangka Painting Explained: A Complete Guide
The Wheel of Life thangka painting, or Bhavachakra, represents the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth that binds all beings until they attain enlightenment.
This cycle, known as samsara in Buddhism, embodies the ongoing suffering one seeks to transcend through spiritual practice and insight. It serves not only as a meditative tool but also as an educational resource to guide practitioners in understanding and breaking free from the cycle of samsara.
Origination of Wheel of Life
The origins of the Wheel of Life can be traced back to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni over 2,500 years ago. It has been utilized in various forms throughout Buddhist history, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism, where it has been intricately depicted in mandalas. These mandalas serve as visual representations of Buddhist philosophy and teachings, providing practitioners with insights into the nature of suffering and the path to liberation.
Wheel of Life Painting Breakdown: The Four Circles
The Wheel of Life painting is generally divided into four concentric circles, each with distinct meanings that contribute to the overall understanding of samsara. Here’s a breakdown of each circle:
The Center of the Wheel: The Three Poisons of Samsara
At the heart of the Wheel of Life, three animals represent the mental afflictions that drive the cycle of samsara: ignorance, anger, and attachment. These three poisons are recognized as the root causes of all suffering within Buddhist teachings.
In the vibrant thangka paintings, you can observe these creatures in a frenetic dance, each chasing and biting the other's tail, illustrating the intricate interconnectedness of these afflictions. Let's dig deeper into it.
Pig (Ignorance):
First, the pig symbolizes the ignorance or delusion, representing confusion and lack of awareness. In Buddhist philosophy, ignorance is seen as the fundamental misunderstanding of existence, leading individuals down a path of misguided actions and decisions. This blindness traps them in the relentless cycle of samsara—endless birth, death, and rebirth.
The pig's association with filth and darkness serves as a stark reminder of how ignorance clouds our vision, preventing us from seeing clearly and comprehending our true selves and the world around us.
Snake (Anger):
Next, snake signifies the anger, which embodies aggression and hatred. This fiery poison fuels destructive actions that not only harm oneself but also those around them.
Anger breeds conflict and negativity, creating a perpetual cycle of suffering. Often sparked by unmet desires or perceived threats, this toxic emotion can lead to self-destructive behaviors that further ensnare individuals in samsara.
The snake's biting action symbolizes how aggression can lead to self-destructive patterns.
Rooster (Attachment):
Finally, we have the rooster, a vivid representation of attachment and desire. This creature symbolizes the craving for fleeting pleasures and the compulsion to cling to impermanent things, which ultimately leads to profound dissatisfaction. Desire fuels attachment, perpetuating a relentless cycle of wanting more, without ever achieving true contentment.
In the Wheel of Life, the rooster's constant pecking reflects how desire drives individuals to chase after fleeting pleasures, ultimately resulting in suffering
The Second Circle: Karma
As we venture into the second circle of the Wheel of Life, we encounter the profound concepts of positive and negative karma. This circle vividly illustrates the law of cause and effect, emphasizing how our actions shape our experiences and ultimately dictate our rebirth into various realms of existence.
On the light half of the circle, we see beings basking in the results of their positive actions, known as good karma, leading them to elevated states of existence. In contrast, the dark half portrays those grappling with the consequences of their bad karma, which result in lower states of existence. This duality serves as a powerful reminder of the impact our choices have on our journey through samsara.
The Third Circle: The Six Realms of Samsara
The third circle introduces us to the six realms of existence, also referred to as the six worlds of samsara. Each realm uniquely reflects the diverse experiences, types of suffering, and paths available to beings based on their accumulated karma.
- Upper Realms: The higher realms include the God Realm, Demi-God Realm, and Human Realm.
- Lower Realms: The lower realms consist of the Animal Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, and Hell Realm.
Within these realms, each category is watched over by a dedicated Buddha, who offers compassion and wisdom tailored to the needs of its inhabitants. Notable figures include Indra, Vemacitra, Shakyamuni Buddha, Sthirasimha, Jvalamukha, and Yama Dharmaraja.
God Realm (Devas):
Nestled just beneath Yama’s mouth lies the God Realm, a place of pleasure and satisfaction that, though delightful, is ultimately not permanent. Beings in this realm enjoy extended lives filled with bliss, yet their comfort often leads to complacency and distraction from spiritual practice. Eventually, their good karma runs out, leading to rebirth in lower realms when they die.
Sage of gods: Indra Sakra
Demi-God Realm (Asuras)
Next to the right of God Realm is the Demi-God Realm, known as the Asuras. This realm is characterized by jealousy and fierce competition. Although demi-gods possess significant power, they are consumed by their craving for the privileges of the gods, particularly the coveted fruits of the Kalpavriksha tree, which only grow in the God Realm.
This bitter rivalry serves as a vivid reminder of the destructive nature of jealousy and competition, echoing Buddhist teachings on transcending negative states to break free from samsara's grip.
Sage of Splendid Fabric: Vemacitra
Human Realm (Manushya):
The Human Realm stands as the most promising space for achieving enlightenment, as it strikes a balance between suffering and the opportunities for personal growth. Here, humans experience a balance of pleasure and suffering, providing opportunities for learning and ethical living. This realm allows for the cultivation of wisdom and compassion—key ingredients on the path to enlightenment.
Sage of Shakya's: Shakyamuni Buddha
Animal Realm (Tiryagyoni)
Just below the demi-gods lies the Animal Realm, where themes of ignorance, instinctual behavior, and inherent suffering prevail. In this state of existence, beings lack the higher reasoning and spiritual insight needed to comprehend the repercussions of their actions, a direct consequence of their negative past karma.
You can see all sorts of animals who face constant threats from predators, harsh environments, and human exploitation, rendering them vulnerable. Unlike humans, they possess little chance for spiritual advancement or liberation from the cycle of samsara.
Sage of Splendid Lion: Sthirasimha
Hungry Ghost Realm (Preta)
The Hungry Ghost Realm, positioned below the human realm, embodies the torment of unfulfilled desires, greed, and the suffering that arises from profound attachment. Beings are reborn in the Hungry Ghost Realm primarily due to their past actions characterized by greed, selfishness, and a refusal to share with others.
These spirits experience extreme longing and dissatisfaction, often depicted with enormous empty stomachs and tiny mouths, making the act of consuming food or drink nearly impossible. Their thin necks symbolize an eternal inability to satisfy their cravings, leading to relentless frustration and suffering.
Sage of Flaming Mouth: Jvalamukha
Hell Realm (Naraka)
The Hell Realm, marked by intense suffering, represents the ultimate consequences of negative actions and unchecked emotions, especially anger. It serves as a potent reminder of the need for ethical living and mindfulness, urging beings to cultivate compassion and wisdom to break free from cycles of suffering and seek enlightenment.
In this realm, beings endure excruciating torment in both hot and cold hells, each form of punishment intricately tied to their past karma. Overseen by Yama, the Lord of Death, who holds a stick and a mirror as symbols of judgment, the Hell Realm illustrates the profound impact of one's actions on their future.
Sovereign of Dharma: Yama Dharmaraja
The Outer Circle: The 12 Links of Dependent Origination: A Buddha for Each World (Samsara)
The outermost circle is composed of twelve images, each illustrating a link in the chain of dependent origination. These twelve stages illustrate the Buddhist concept of cause and effect and the interconnectedness of all life. These twelve links are:
- Ignorance(Avidya): The root of all suffering, shown as an elderly blind figure at the top left.
- Formations(Samskara): Shaped by past actions, symbolized by a potter shaping clay.
- Consciousness(Vijnana): Awareness rooted in karma, represented by a monkey climbing.
- Name and Form(Nama-Rupa): The distinction of mind and body, depicted as men rowing a boat.
- Six Senses(Shadayatana): Development of senses, symbolized by an empty house with six windows.
- Contact(Sparsha): Interaction between senses and the world, shown as a man and woman embracing.
- Feeling(Vedana): Sensations, positive or negative, portrayed by a man struck by an arrow in the eye.
- Thirst(Tanha): Attachment to pleasure, depicted as a man enjoying alcohol.
- Grasping(Updana): Desire to hold onto experiences, represented by a man reaching for fruit.
- Existence(Bhava): Karma shaping future lives, symbolized by a couple in union.
- Birth(Jati): The start of new life, illustrated by a newborn.
- Aging and Death(Jara-Marana): Decay and mortality, shown as a man carrying a corpse for cremation.
Additional Elements
Yama (the Lord of Death)
At the core of the Wheel of Life stands Yama, a formidable figure who holds the entire wheel within his fangs. This striking imagery symbolizes impermanence and reminds us of life’s fleeting nature.
The Moon
Paced above the wheel, the Moon signifies liberation from samsara, with the Buddha often pointing to it to show that enlightenment and freedom from suffering are within reach.
Significance of the Wheel of Life
The Wheel of Life symbolizes the entire journey of a soul through samsara and illustrates the suffering inherent in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It serves as a powerful reminder for practitioners to work towards breaking free from these cycles by overcoming ignorance, attachment, and anger. The painting is often hung in monasteries to inspire meditation on karma, impermanence, and the importance of seeking enlightenment.
How is the wheel of life significant to Karma?
The concept of karma is central to the Wheel of Life, as each realm and layer of the painting illustrates the effects of one's actions. Positive actions lead to beneficial rebirths, while negative actions bring about suffering.
The six realms reflect the consequences of karma, while the twelve links demonstrate the chain of cause and effect. By understanding and contemplating the Wheel of Life, one learns the importance of mindful action, paving the path towards liberation from samsara.
Conclusion
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