The Upper Realms include the God Realm, Demi-God Realm and Human Realm. Suffering ends only upon leaving the Wheel altogether. These are the six worlds into which we can reincarnate. The next ring depicts the six realms of samsara, or suffering. Such ignorant actions earn us demerit, and pull us down to a lower incarnation. The right side of this ring depicts negative reaction to events, our thoughts, words and actions out of alignment. Such enlightened actions earn us merit, and raise us up to an incarnation in the higher realms. The left side depicts our positive reaction to events, our positive thoughts, words and actions. The next ring represents the positive and negative karma that we develop as a result of our actions. Most humans never grow past these three vices. The three vices chase each other as they bite each others' tail. A pig represents ignorance - not realizing the great being that we are. The center of the Wheel represents the human vices that we are born into with every incarnation. This reminds us that nothing is permanent and we cannot escape death - it is part of the cycle of life. The Wheel itself is held in the clutches of Yama, the Lord of Death. Buddha points to the wheel however, indicating that at any time He can take on another lifetime or part of a life, outside of karmic existence, to assist us. Fully enlightened, Buddha is off the Wheel, beyond the cycle of reincarnation. The Wheel of Life depicts the cycle of life, death and rebirth as a series of concentric rings, each displaying powerful images that represent various stages of the karmic cycle.Ībove and to the right of the Wheel stands Buddha - the ultimate truth, clarity, Christ consciousness, and enlightenment. These teachings enable us to remain tranquil and blissful at the moment of transition, preparing us for a higher incarnation. The Wheel of Life helps us understand the process of life and death, and teaches us what it means to drop the illusion of the physical form and continue our soul's Divine journey. A fearful last thought can send us into a lower incarnation. It is wise, therefore, to avoid fear at the moment of death. The last thought we have before transitioning helps determine our next incarnation - whether into a higher or lower realm. As the Wheel teaches us, after countless cycles of life and death, we finally reach enlightenment and may step off the wheel of reincarnation and suffering.ĭuring this process of death and rebirth, it is very important to prepare for our final moment. Through karma, or cause and effect, these higher life choices lead to higher incarnations, as we cycle through the Wheel again and again, learning and releasing negative karma. With this awareness and understanding, and a willingness to look within, we can move beyond unexamined human behavior and begin to make higher life choices. The wisdom of the Wheel can help us keep our thoughts, words and actions in alignment by showing us where we might be falling short in applying the higher spiritual teachings in our life. The more we understand the wisdom and energy contained in the Wheel of Life, the more it can support and assist our progress on our spiritual journey toward enlightenment. The Wheel is a tremendous source of information that can be explored for many years and even lifetimes. The image of the Wheel itself is a powerful mandala (sacred circular image), which brings healing and transformational energy to all who view or meditate upon it. The Wheel of Life, which hangs in the entryway of nearly all Buddhist monasteries and temples, is a very effective and sacred tool for spiritual seekers of all traditions. While the cycle of life and death has been represented in many ways by many traditions, the Tibetan Wheel of Life is thought to be the most accurate. The Tibetan Wheel of Life, also known as the Karmic Wheel and Wheel of Becoming, is a Buddhist representation of the process of life, death and rebirth. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Tibetan Wheel of Life
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