Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting


6.9 Wheel of Life

Sanskrit: Bhavacakra - Tibetan: Srid pa khor lo

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The Wheel of Life illustrates in a popular way the essence of the Buddhist teachings, the Four Truths: the existence of earthly suffering, its origin and cause, the ending or prevention of misery and the practice path to liberation from suffering.

The Wheel of Life describes the cause of all evil and its effects, mirrored in earthly phenomena just as it is experienced by everyone from the cradle to the grave. Picture by picture it reminds us that everyone is always his or her own judge and responsible for their own fate, because, according to Karma, causes and their effects are the fruits of one's own deeds.

The circular composition of the Wheel of Life guides the viewer from picture to picture along the black path or the white path. It leads him or her through the twelve interwoven causes and their consequences to rebirth in one of the so-called Six Worlds. Projected on one plane,they fill the whole inner sphere the Wheel of Life. But the meaning of this painting is to show the way out of all these worlds of suffering into the sphere beyond.

The Wheel of Life is dedicated to all animated beings who have not yet attained the first step of spiritual liberation [Nirvana]. It therefore illustrates in a popular way the essence of the Buddhist teachings, the Four Truths: the existence of earthly suffering, its origin and cause, the cessation or prevention of misery and the practice path to liberation from earthly suffering.

The Wheel of Life describes the cause of all evil and its effects, mirrored in earthly phenomena just as it is experienced by every man from the cradle to the grave. Picture by picture it reminds us that everyone is always his or her own judge and responsible for their own fate, because, according to Karma, causes and their effects are the fruits of one's own deeds. This socalled fate is demonstrated by the Lord of Dead, who like a monster holds the Wheel of Life in his claws; he is a symbol of the transitory nature of all earthly phenomena.

The picturepath to follow begins in the centre arrow of the wheel. There, the three spiritual poisons are depicted: a black pig for ignorance, a green snake for envy and hatred and a red cock and for lust and greed.

Who ever delivers himself up to these basic evils walks along the Dark Path leading to hells and bad rebirths. The other way is the Path of Bliss leading to better rebirths and upwards to final liberation. Both paths are illustrated by the ring surrounding the centre of the picture scroll: saints and sages lead the virtuous along the Path of Bliss, and demons, armed with nooses, drag the sinners along the Dark Path. In this way, the ignorant and the sinful, by the twelve interdependent causes and their effects are mercilessly driven through the Wheel of Life.

Detailed additional explanation


PropertyValue
Measurements: 15.7 x 21.3" | 40 x 54 cm
Price: on request
Shipment: Parcel Service from Germany or Nepal
Color: Black Background
Material: Natural Stone Colors