Bhavachakra

Bhavachakra

1. The Wheel of Life

   • Symbolises Buddha's teachings on reality
   • The Three poisons
     • Wheel is driven by these
       • At centre
     • Craving = cockerel
     • Hatred = Snake
     • Ignorance = pig
       • Animals chase each other - each fuels the other in a cycle

2. Law of Karma

   • Light - beings move up through levels of karma, positive states of mind
   • Dark - fall downwards, led by demons - neg. states of mind
   • 'Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.' - Dhammapada

3. The 6 Realms of Samsaric Existence

   • Some believe metaphorical some believe real
     • Regardless, not permanent - always Bodhi/Buddha figure to show way out
   • Heaven
     • May forget suffering - Buddha plays lute of impermanence
   • Jealous Gods
     • Constant conflict - Bodhisattva able to overcome hatred
   • Human
     • Pleasure + pain, ideal realm - Bstva leads spiritual life
   • Hungry Ghost (preta)
     • Nothing can satisfy desire - Bstva shows satisfaction through Dhamma
   • Hell
     • Stems from hatred, suffer torture - Bstva gives ambrosia shows nirvana only true escape
   • Animal
     • Ignorance, basic physical needs - Bstva gives education + culture

4. 12 Causal Links (Nidanas) illustrating Pratitya Samutpada

   • 1 - Ignorance = Blind man
   • 2 - Habits = Potter
   • 3 - Counciousness = Monkey
   • 4 - Name + form = boat + 4 passengers, 5 skhandas
   • 6 - Contact = man + woman embracing
   • 7 - Feeling = man with arrow in eye
   • 8 - Craving = thirsty man
   • 9 - Grasping = person gathering fruit
   • 10 - Rebecoming = pregnant woman
   • 11 - Rebirth = Birth
   • 12 - Death = corpse