How to Explain the Tibetan Wheel of Life
The Tibetan Wheel of Life is a symbol of the Buddhist religion, a depiction that represents the way they see the world and the human condition. The creature that holding the wheel is Yama, a wrathful deity. Buddhists keep images of wrathful deities in their homes to protect them against evil influences and to remind them to destroy passions and evils in themselves. Yama is the Lord of Death and symbolizes the inevitability of death and the temporary nature of all things.
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Instructions
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In the inner circle of the wheel you will see three symbols that represent the three root delusions. Hatred is represented by a snake, ignorance by a rooster and greed by a pig.
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The ring next ring around the center represents karma (the effect of a person's actions that determine their destiny in their next life). The figures on the left ascend to a higher realm of existence because they are virtuous. The figures on the right descend to a lower level of existence because they are ignorant and greedy.
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The area between the spokes -- the middle ring of the wheel -- contains symbols of the six realms of existence. The top half, from left to right, shows the higher realms, gods, demi-gods and humans. The lower half shows the lower realms, hungry ghosts, hell-beings and animals.
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Study the twelve links in the outer ring
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Look to the right of the top and see a blind man with a cane representing ignorance of the true nature of the world.
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Move clockwise and see a potter making a pot. This symbolizes us shaping our own destiny with our habitual tendencies to do the things we do that shape our character.
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See the monkey climbing a tree symbolizing the consciousness of the mind (i.e., being aware of what you are doing) wandering in and out of control.
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Look clockwise again and see people traveling on the river of life on boat. The boat is symbolic of the body and the people symbolize our different states of mind.
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See the empty house next that has five windows and one door. The windows symbolize the five senses and the door represents the way they interact with our thoughts.
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Next, look at the lovers embracing, which symbolize the five senses allowing us to have contact with the world.
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Notice the arrow piercing the eye. This symbolizes the contact that leads to feelings which we deem pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.
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The couple falling in love symbolizes the desire for pleasant experiences.
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The monkey picking fruit represents us grasping for what we desire.
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Notice the man and the woman making love, a symbol of existence arising from the grasping of desire.
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The woman in childbirth symbolizes existence ending with entry into the human realm.
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The old man carrying the burden is the final symbol of existence leading to aging and death.
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