Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting


6.14 Bon Wheel of Life

Sanskrit: Bhavacakra - Tibetan: Srid pa khor lo

Full  View Detail 1: Pig, snake and cock in center Detail 2 Detail 3 Detail 4: Human World Detail 5 World of animals Detail 6: World of Hells Detail 7: World of hunger ghosts Detail 8 Detail 9
Bon, also spelled Bön is a Tibetan religion, which self-identifies as distinct from Tibetan Buddhism, although it shares the same overall teachings and terminology. It arose in the eleventh century and established its scriptures mainly from termas and visions by tertöns such as Loden Nyingpo. Though Bon terma contain myths of Bon existing before the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet, "in truth the 'old religion' was a new religion." The word' Tibet' In the Tibetan language is still called 'Bö'.

Though some people call the old pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet 'Bon', it is unlikely that before Buddhism the Tibetans had a clear sense of practising a religion as such, or a specific name for these practices. In fact, the Bonpo religion only started to take shape alongside the revival of Buddhism in the eleventh century. And when the scriptures of the Bonpo started to appear in Tibet, it was mainly through the work of terton.

The innermost of the 4 concentric circles shows a pig [ignorance], snake [anger] and a rooster [desire].

The Bon Wheel of Life resembles the Buddhist counterpart, but is far from identical. In particular it is noticeable that the symbols for the three basic ills of all sentient beings are represented differently in the picture´s centre. They do not bite each other´s tails dipicted as individual animals but have merged into a single mythical creature.

Particular it is noticeable that the symbols for the three basic ills of all sentient beings are represented differently in the picture´s centre. They do not bite each other´s tails dipicted as individual animals but have merged into a single mythical creature.

Detailed additional explanation


PropertyValue
Measurements: 14.2 x 19.7" | 36 x 50 cm
Price: on request
Shipment: Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal
Color: Color Version
High resolution: Display [3.0 MB, 2386 x 3246 px.]
Material: Natural Stone Colors