Wheel of Life

The​ ​Wheel​ ​of​ ​life​ ​is​ ​the​ ​description​ ​of​ ​a​ ​basic​ ​Tibetan​ ​belief​ ​i.e.,​ ​the​ ​transmigratory existence.
It​ ​explains​ ​in​ ​a​ ​most​ ​lucid​ ​manner​ ​the​ ​theory​ ​of​ ​rebirth.​ ​The​ ​form​ ​in​ ​which​ ​a​ ​beingis reborn​ ​into​ ​the​ ​Universe​ ​depends​ ​upon​ ​his​ ​yearnings,​ ​prayers,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​merit and​ ​demerit​ ​(karma)​ ​he​ ​has​ ​stored​ ​up​ ​in​ ​his​ ​past​ ​lives.​ ​This​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​rebirth​ ​affects the​ ​whole​ ​living​ ​universe.

The​ ​wheel​ ​is​ ​held​ ​in​ ​the​ ​embrace​ ​of​ ​Shenje​ ​(tib.)​ ​or​ ​Mara​ ​(sanskrit),​ ​the​ ​ruler​ ​of​ ​the Dead,​ ​showing​ ​that​ ​all​ ​beings​ ​must​ ​eventually​ ​meet​ ​Death.​ ​Shenje,​ ​who​ ​is​ ​again represented​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sphere​ ​of​ ​Hell,​ ​is​ ​a​ ​ferocious​ ​god​ ​with​ ​fangs.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​said​ ​to​ ​symbolize the​ ​fearfulness​ ​of​ ​death​ ​and​ ​the​ ​hideousness​ ​of​ ​clinging​ ​to​ ​life.

Outside​ ​the​ ​wheel​ ​is​ ​a​ ​figure​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​Buddha,​ ​who​ ​is​ ​free​ ​from​ ​the​ ​moral​ ​and​ ​mental obstructions​ ​which​ ​can​ ​prevent​ ​all​ ​living​ ​beings​ ​from​ ​achieving​ ​Enlightenment.​ ​His presence​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​wheel​ ​implies​ ​his​ ​escape​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cycle​ ​of​ ​life.

The​ ​Wheel​ ​of​ ​Life​ ​is​ ​divided​ ​into​ ​three​ ​parts:​ ​axle,​ ​spokes​ ​and​ ​rim​ ​(depicting​ ​the​ ​12 nidanas).

The​ ​Axle​ ​​:​ ​The​ ​first​ ​Noble​ ​Truth​ ​in​ ​Buddhist​ ​belief​ ​holds​ ​that​ ​”suffering​ ​exists”.The purpose​ ​of​ ​Mahayana​ ​Buddhist​ ​teachings​ ​is​ ​to​ ​relieve​ ​all​ ​living​ ​beings​ ​from​ ​suffering.​ ​To achieve​ ​this​ ​end,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​be​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​the​ ​three​ ​evils​ ​which​ ​cause​ ​our​ ​sufferings,​ ​i.e., Ignorance,​ ​Desire​ ​and​ ​Hatred.​ ​These​ ​three​ ​great​ ​vices,​ ​which​ ​rule​ ​the​ ​Universe​ ​and keep​ ​it​ ​in​ ​continuous​ ​revolution,​ ​are​ ​symbolized​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pig​ ​(ignorance),​ ​the​ ​Cock (desire)​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Snake​ ​(hatred).​ ​By​ ​abstaining​ ​from​ ​these​ ​three​ ​vices,​ ​we​ ​may​ ​further our​ ​progress​ ​on​ ​the​ ​path​ ​to​ ​Nirvana.
The​ ​outer​ ​axle​ ​shows​ ​the​ ​manifestation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​white​ ​white​ ​heaven​ ​and​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​black​ ​hell.

The​ ​spokes​ ​​:​ ​the​ ​spokes​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wheel​ ​divide​ ​our​ ​Universe​ ​into​ ​six​ ​sensual​ ​realms: Gods,​ ​Demi-Gods​ ​or​ ​Titans,​ ​Human​ ​beings,​ ​Animals,​ ​Yidags​ ​or​ ​Ghosts​ ​and​ ​Hells. Meritorious​ ​karma​ ​causes​ ​beings​ ​to​ ​take​ ​rebirth​ ​in​ ​the​ ​realms​ ​of​ ​gods,​ ​demi-gods​ ​or humans.​ ​Demeritorious​ ​karma​ ​causes​ ​beings​ ​to​ ​take​ ​rebirth​ ​in​ ​the​ ​lower​ ​realms​ ​of animals,​ ​yidags​ ​or​ ​hell.​ ​Nevertheless,​ ​the​ ​beings​ ​of​ ​the​ ​six​ ​realms​ ​cannot​ ​escape​ ​the suffering​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Universe;​ ​in​ ​each​ ​of​ ​the​ ​realms,​ ​suffering​ ​exists.​ ​Also,​ ​in​ ​each​ ​realm​ ​the compassion​ ​of​ ​Lord​ ​Buddha​ ​is​ ​all​ ​pervading.​ ​This​ ​compassion​ ​rising​ ​from​ ​every

direction,​ ​helps​ ​all​ ​beings​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​path​ ​to​ ​enlightenment​ ​and​ ​release​ ​from​ ​the suffering​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Universe.

1.​ ​The​ ​Realm​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Gods​ ​​:​ ​the​ ​gods​ ​dwell​ ​in​ ​heavenly​ ​bliss.​ ​Sweet​ ​strains​ ​of​ ​music are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​heard​ ​everywhere​ ​and​ ​whenever​ ​they​ ​wish,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​eat​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Tree​ ​of​ ​Life whose​ ​branches​ ​instantly​ ​yield​ ​any​ ​food​ ​wished​ ​for.​ ​The​ ​gods​ ​enjoy​ ​bliss​ ​for​ ​almost incalculable​ ​time,​ ​but​ ​their​ ​long​ ​life​ ​is​ ​the​ ​source​ ​of​ ​their​ ​suffering.

2.​ ​The​ ​Realm​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Demi-gods​ ​​:​ ​the​ ​demi-gods​ ​leading​ ​trait​ ​is​ ​Pride​ ​and​ ​their​ ​realm​ ​is reserved​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​in​ ​earlier​ ​life​ ​boasted​ ​of​ ​being​ ​more​ ​pious​ ​than​ ​their​ ​neighbours. The​ ​duration​ ​of​ ​their​ ​life​ ​is​ ​greater​ ​than​ ​the​ ​human​ ​and​ ​they​ ​have​ ​greater​ ​luxury​ ​and enjoyment.​ ​But​ ​their​ ​suffering​ ​are​ ​extreme,​ ​for​ ​they,​ ​in​ ​their​ ​pride,​ ​envy​ ​the​ ​greater​ ​bliss of​ ​the​ ​gods.​ ​They​ ​die,​ ​fighting​ ​vainly​ ​for​ ​the​ ​fruits​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Heavenly​ ​Tree.

3.​ ​The​ ​Realm​ ​of​ ​Human​ ​Beings​ ​​:​ ​contrary​ ​to​ ​popular​ ​belief,​ ​the​ ​region​ ​of​ ​human beings​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​desirable,​ ​for​ ​it​ ​is​ ​only​ ​from​ ​this​ ​life​ ​can​ ​one​ ​may​ ​attain Enlightenment.​ ​Unlike​ ​other​ ​realms,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​only​ ​in​ ​the​ ​realm​ ​of​ ​humans​ ​that​ ​one​ ​may combine​ ​reason​ ​and​ ​faith​ ​and​ ​earn​ ​the​ ​privilege​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​the​ ​transient​ ​life​ ​and​ ​dwell forever​ ​in​ ​Nirvana,​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​all​ ​Buddhist​ ​hopes​ ​and​ ​prayers.​ ​Even​ ​so,​ ​human​ ​beings experience​ ​four​ ​great​ ​suffering:​ ​Birth,​ ​Illness,​ ​Old​ ​age​ ​and​ ​Death.

4.​ ​The​ ​Realm​ ​of​ ​Animals​​ ​:​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​the​ ​beast​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​greatest​ ​misery​ ​than​ ​that of​ ​the​ ​human​ ​beings.​ ​Some​ ​beings​ ​of​ ​this​ ​realm​ ​have​ ​to​ ​bear​ ​the​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​being subjected​ ​to​ ​bondage​ ​and​ ​slavery.​ ​Their​ ​great​ ​suffering​ ​lies​ ​in​ ​their​ ​inability​ ​to​ ​express themselves.

5.​ ​The​ ​Realm​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Tantalized​ ​Ghosts​ ​(Yidags)​ ​​:​ ​these​ ​wretched​ ​beings​ ​are condemned​ ​to​ ​suffer​ ​the​ ​torment​ ​of​ ​hunger​ ​and​ ​thirst.​ ​Their​ ​mouths​ ​are​ ​no​ ​bigger​ ​than the​ ​eye​ ​of​ ​a​ ​needle,​ ​their​ ​gullets​ ​no​ ​thicker​ ​than​ ​a​ ​hair​ ​and​ ​they​ ​can​ ​never​ ​take​ ​in enough​ ​food​ ​to​ ​fill​ ​their​ ​huge​ ​bellies.​ ​Thirst​ ​is​ ​expressed​ ​by​ ​flames​ ​which​ ​issue​ ​from​ ​the poor​ ​yidag’s​ ​parched​ ​mouth.

6.​ ​Hell​​ ​:​ ​the​ ​Buddhist​ ​Hell​ ​is​ ​a​ ​true​ ​inferno,​ ​situated​ ​in​ ​the​ ​bowels​ ​of​ ​the​ ​universe.​ ​It​ ​is presided​ ​over​ ​by​ ​Shenje​ ​who​ ​also​ ​holds​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​Buddhist​ ​Universe​ ​in​ ​his​ ​embrace.​ ​It is​ ​the​ ​world​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​of​ ​Death.​ ​Shenje​ ​is​ ​the​ ​judge​ ​of​ ​the​ ​dead,​ ​the​ ​Great​ ​Judgement is​ ​determined​ ​solely​ ​by​ ​a​ ​by​ ​being’s​ ​own​ ​actions.​ ​His​ ​good​ ​deeds​ ​(white​ ​pebbles),​ ​are weighted​ ​against​ ​his​ ​bad​ ​(black​ ​pebbles)​ ​and​ ​the​ ​judge​ ​holds​ ​a​ ​mirror​ ​which​ ​reveals​ ​all his​ ​soul​ ​in​ ​all​ ​its​ ​nakedness.​ ​Hell​ ​is​ ​divided​ ​into​ ​numerous​ ​compartments,​ ​each​ ​with​ ​a

special​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​torture​ ​devised​ ​to​ ​suit​ ​the​ ​sins​ ​to​ ​be​ ​expiated.​ ​Eight​ ​hot​ ​hells​ ​are​ ​depicted on​ ​the​ ​left,​ ​eight​ ​cold​ ​hells​ ​on​ ​the​ ​right,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​between​ ​are​ ​several​ ​additional​ ​hells.

In​ ​the​ ​six​ ​Realms​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Universe​ ​depicted​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Wheel,​ ​Lord​ ​Buddha​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​aid​ ​the six​ ​beings​ ​in​ ​the​ ​elimination​ ​of​ ​their​ ​miseries.

Excerpt​ ​from​ ​the​ ​book:
NEW-SUN​ ​SELF​ ​LEARNING​ ​BOOK​ ​ON​ ​THE​ ​ART​ ​OF​ ​TIBETAN​ ​PAINTING.​ ​Mr. Jamyang.​ ​Tibetan​ ​Home​ ​Foundation.​ ​Art​ ​Class.​ ​Happy​ ​Valley,​ ​Mussoorie.​ ​India