Any time we meet resistance, if we force the situation, the resistance will only increase. When things do not work out as we would have wanted them to, our first reaction is to blame others and we then try to force the situation, which leads to resistance. Our inherent instinctive nature is aggressive. Next is the snake that signifies aggression. The satisfaction of the former leads to its termination, while in the case of the latter any attempt at gratification leads to further temptation, as in the case of lust for money for its own sake. This is an important distinction between a natural, healthy desire and an unnatural Craving. A hungry person may want Food, which is a straightforward desire, and as soon as one eats this hunger is satisfied. Thus said the Buddha Shakyamuni "Just as a rock is not moved by the wind, so the wise man is not moved by blame or praise."Ĭraving should be distinguished from healthy desire. In such a scenario we are constantly looking at ourselves through the eyes of the World, and lose track of our inner Life force, which, rather than the approval and opinion of others, should be the ultimate benchmark. It further signifies the most natural of all human emotions, namely our Craving for admiration and approval of those around us. A more appropriate term would be ' Craving.' Craving of this sort can be observed for example when we lose something and experience not only regret or irritation at no longer being able to enjoy it but a deeper sense of loss, even a kind of panic.
TIBETAN WHEEL OF LIFE FULL
The word Greed does not really do full justice to the emotion symbolized by the cock which includes the whole spectrum of unwholesome desire from vague hankerings to intense longings. No Doubt, the proverbial vanity and lust of this poor bird make it an appropriate Symbol for this human failing. The cock from which emerges the snake represents Greed. It is appropriate that these forces are depicted by Animals, since they represent primitive urges beneath our supposedly civilized exterior. They are known as the ' Three poisons' because from them grow all of Life's evils, and because they corrupt us from within. Wheel of Life : pig, bird and snakeOn first viewing this metaphysical diagram, the attention of the viewer is immediately captured by the starkness of the center where are shown a pig, a snake, and a cock, running on endlessly (as Life itself), and each emerging from another, in a kind of awful dance.Įach of these Animals represents a particular human failing or weakness, which stands as an obstacle to Spiritual accomplishment. By making visuals the primary mode of expression, it makes these realizations available to all, even the spiritually uninitiated. It is this very identification that the Buddhist Wheel helps us in attaining. The first step towards their elimination and replacement by positive virtues is the recognition of these ills. But under no condition is it a pessimistic presentation, rather it is an optimistic affirmation that redemption is possible by recognizing the delusions that plague our ephemeral existence. The Wheel of Life presents these very causes for our Suffering through both gruesome and sublime imagery. There are various reasons for the Suffering our mortal forms have to entail. The goal of our earthly sojourn is to attain Enlightenment and gain deliverance from the Constant cycle of birth and Re-Birth which characterizes all Sentient beings. The Buddhist view is that we humans exist in an unenlightened state. Essentially a construction made up of four concentric circles, it is an attempt to convey Spiritual insights behind our 'physical existence' in purely visual terms. Thus was born the esoteric image known as 'The Wheel of Life.' This diagram serves as a powerful inspiration to Spiritual aspirants and is painted to the left of all Tibetan Monasteries, Offering an opportunity to both Monks and pilgrims alike, to look deeply into their own inner beings.Īn amazing collection of contrasting imagery, each aspect of this composition is packed with rich symbolism and direct, hard-hitting metaphors.
Buddha, noticing this, proposed that a picture should be made representing Maudgalyayana's teachings, so that his message could be made available to even those who did not have direct access to him. The Wheel of Life (Srid pahi hkhor lo), also known as The Wheel of TransmigrationWith this ability to enter deeply into the lives of another it is not surprising that the insights expressed in his teachings gained a wide audience and universal acceptance. He was said to be extremely adept at Spiritual practices and had such Mastery over psychic powers that he could penetrate into the soul of any individual and visualize all that was happening there and why. One of Buddha's foremost disciples was Maudgalyayana.
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