Is it really a map explaining why we are here and what can we do to leave "forced existance" and return to the unborn?
Here is the "Wheel of Life" or I like to call it "The Map of Our Existance"
http://downloads.wisdompubs.org/website_downloads/WheelofLife.jpg
2007-02-27 17:05:48 · 5 answers · asked by ? 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Wheel of Life as it is called is more than just a map, but it is a wordless book that shows its viewers the nature of existence.
The core circle normally has 3 animals within it to symbolise, the main reason which keeps all beings locked in this seemingly endless cycle of birth and death... attached with unending suffering...
The black and white layer is the cycle of life - birth, illness, old age and death
The next layer would depict the 6 realms of existence, showing the catergories one can take rebirth into depending on one accumulation of ppositive or negative karma
The outer layer would depict the 12 links of causation, which is in essence the extended explanation of the core circle, depicting how one simple action can branch into a multitude of results and how each action and thought are linked to another in a web of connections.
Gripping this wheel would be a depiction of Mara, normally drawn as a fierce demon with bulging eyes and fangs... Mara is the "Devil" which keeps all beings in suffering, but unlike the Christian/Islam depiction of Satan, Mara is the archetypal image of our inner demons that we are unable to let go and hence, keeps us all in pain.
Beyond the Wheel is usually depicted a Buddha or a Paradise of sorts, showing how one can transcend the Wheel of suffering towards Liberation
2007-02-27 17:18:45 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dear watch man, i afraid you are wrong, as much as i know Buddhist society DISCOURAGE abortion.
According to the teaching from Buddhism, the reason we are stuck in this 'force existance' is due to the 'law of cause and effect' (in Buddhist is call Karma) due to beginningless time.
Brief explanation of The Wheel of life
Yama
The traditional Wheel of Life presents a large circle which consists of three more concentric circles within and six segments.
Turning (or devouring?) this large circle is Yama, the Lord of Death, a fierce-looking figure whose head protrudes above the circle and his feet below. His incisors are fang-like and his hands and feet are taloned. Skulls adorn his head, indicating his association with death.
The Innermost Circle
The innermost circle of the Wheel of Life are three animals - a pig, a rooster and a snake, representing greed (lobha), hatred (dosa) and delusion (moha). These are referred to as 'the three fires' or 'the three poisons'. The fact that these are positioned at the very center of the Wheel of Life indicates how fundamental they are in sustaining the cycle of birth and death with all its attendant suffering. The pig represents delusion, the rooster greed and the snake hatred.
The Inner Circle
The circular band surrounding the center of the Wheel shows beings rising and falling according to their deeds (the law of kamma). Those who lived good lives are seen to be ascending, those who have lived bad lives, descending. The background is light for those ascending and dark for those on the descent.
The Six Realms
Moving outwards, the Wheel is split into six segments, each segment depicting one of the six realms of samsara, the cycle of birth and death. Starting clockwise at the top there is the realm of the gods, a place of pleasure and happiness. Figures playing musical instruments -suggesting a life of leisure and sensory delight - are often depicted within this segment. It should be noted, however, that this is not an everlasting abode, and so too with the others. Once a god's store of good deeds has been used up, that god is destined to rebirth in a lower realm.
The second segment portrays the realm of what are variously referred to as demi-gods or titans. Though powerful, they live a flawed existence due to their jealousy which causes them to compete with each other.
The third segment moving clockwise shows the realm of the hungry ghosts or pretas. These are shown with distended bellies, though no matter how much they eat and drink, they are always thirsty and hungry.
The bottom segment shows the hell realm, where beings live tormented by extremes of heat and cold. Though not an eternal realm, the opportunities for good actions are limited so it is difficult for a being to escape from this realm easily.
The fifth segment is the animal realm dominated by instinct and a need to survive, and in which opportunities for moral action are, as in hell, limited.
The final realm is that of humans - a place that has pleasant aspects and some unpleasant ones too. Of the six, Buddhism regards this as the best realm of all in that it offers the best conditions for gaining enlightenment. Unlike the realm of the gods, humans are able to focus on other things rather than just sensory pleasure. The vicissitudes of life mean that it is inevitable that humans will see the realm they inhabit as less than satisfactory and therefore seek answers. It is thus a place where there are opportunities for both moral action and spiritual advancement. It is for this reason Buddhism emphasizes how precious it is to be born a human being and how important it is to take advantage of the special opportunities it affords, opportunites denied the other five realms.
In many Wheel of Life thangkas, a bodhisattva is depicted in each of the six realms, suggesting that compassionate beings are in each of the realms to help those who are there.
The Outer Circle - The Twelve Links
To understand the symbolism of the outer circle, you need to work clockwise through the twelve images depicted. These represent, in turn, each of the twelve links of dependent origination, the Buddha's explanation of the process by which beings live, die and are reborn again.
According to the Mahayana teaching, the only way to get out of 'cyclic existance' is to liberate from it, and gain the full enlightenment.
2007-02-28 01:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by dora_chan 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It sure didn't help the female babies, the buddhist society abort millions of them.
2007-02-28 01:08:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it works for them it is a very good thing
2007-02-28 01:09:14 · answer #4 · answered by devora k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't understand it
2007-02-28 01:09:05 · answer #5 · answered by clock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋