Transcript The Wheel Of Life (Bhavacakra)

The Wheel Of Life
(Bhavacakra)
by
Acchaya Bajracharya
Origin
• The Buddha himself
created the original
concept of the Wheel of
Life.
• It is painted on the outside
walls of nearly every
Tibetan Buddhist temple.
• Used to communicate to a
general audience.
The Three Poisons
• Painted at the centre of
the Wheel of Life.
• Symbolises the three
roots to suffering
(Samsara).
• The three root poisons
(Kleshas); ignorance,
attachment & anger.
Karma
• Is The second layer of the
Wheel Of Life.
• Is made of 2 halves: light and
dark
• Light half shows people, who
are content, moving up realms.
• Dark half shows people, who
are sad, moving down realms.
• Represent karma; the universal
law of cause and effect.
Second Layer
Samsara
• There are six realms of
Samsara into which
beings are reborn into.
• This is dictated by the
being’s karma.
• Some realms seem more
pleasant than others (e.g.
God realm compared to
Hell realm).
• All are forms of suffering
(Samsara).
Twelve Nidanas
• The fourth layer of
the Wheel of Life.
• They identify the
origin of suffering
(dukkha) as being in
ignorance (avijja).
• There are 12
Nidanas known as
the 12-fold chain.
Yama
• Yama is the figure
holding the Wheel of
Life.
• Yama is a wrathful deity
who is the lord of death.
• Symbolises
impermanence and the
inevitability of death –
‘nothing lasts for ever’
Buddha and the Moon
• The Buddha is shown
standing outside of the
Wheel.
• The moon is used to
represent liberation.
• The Buddha points to the
moon.
Thank you for listening.
Are there any questions?