![]() ![]() There are actually eighteen different types of hells, each inflicting a different kind of torment. ![]() Hell beings endure unimaginable suffering for eons of time. On the rare occasions that they do manage to find something to eat or drink, the food or water burns their neck as it goes down to their belly, causing them intense agony. Hungry ghosts have huge bellies and long thin necks. For example, they see a stream of pure, clear water in the distance, but by the time they get there the stream has dried up. They wander constantly in search of food and drink, only to be miserably frustrated any time they come close to actually getting what they want. Hungry ghosts suffer from extreme hunger and thirst. Domestic animals suffer from being exploited by humans for example, they are slaughtered for food, overworked, and so on. Wild animals suffer from being attacked and eaten by other animals they generally lead lives of constant fear. The 3 lower Reals are animal, hell, and hungry ghosts. Yet the human realm is considered to be the most suitable realm for practicing the dharma because humans are not completely distracted by pleasure or by pain and suffering (like the beings in the lower realms). They also suffer from the general sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death. Humans suffer from hunger, thirst, heat, cold, separation from friends, being attacked by enemies, not getting what they want, and getting what they don’t want. The demi-gods suffer from constant fighting and jealousy, and from being killed and wounded in their wars with each other and with the gods. When they make war on the gods, they always lose, since the gods are much more powerful. The demi-gods have pleasure and abundance almost as much as the gods, but they spend their time fighting among themselves or making war on the gods. When death comes to them, they are completely unprepared without realizing it, they have completely exhausted their good karma (which was the cause for being reborn in the god realm) and they suffer through being reborn in the lower realms Demi-God Realm The gods lead long and enjoyable lives full of pleasure and abundance, but they spend their lives pursuing meaningless distractions and never think to practice the dharma. ![]() The 3 upper Reals are god, demigod, and human. It is consists of 6 realms god, demigod, human, animal, hungry ghost, and hell realm. Third Layer: Six Realms of Life or Samsara The dark half-circle indicates people experiencing the results of negative actions. The light half-circle indicates people experiencing the results of positive actions. These images represent karma, the law of cause and effect. The other half-circle (usually dark) shows people in a miserable state being led downwards to lower states, possibly to the lower realms.One half-circle (usually light) shows contented people moving upwards to higher states, possibly to the higher realms.The second layer of the wheel shows two-half circles: These three animals represent the three poisons, which are the core of the Wheel of Life.įrom these three poisons, the whole cycle of existence evolves. The particular bird used in this diagram represents an Indian bird that is very attached to its partner. The snake represents aversion or anger this is because it will be aroused and strike at the slightest touch. The pig stands for ignorance this comparison is based on the Indian concept of a pig being the most foolish of animals since it sleeps in the dirtiest places and eats whatever comes to its mouth. They represent the three poisons of ignorance, attachment, and aversion. In the hub of the wheel are three animals a pig, a snake, and a bird. Wheel of life is also known as Wheel of becoming, Wheel of cyclic existence, Wheel of existence, Wheel of life, Wheel of rebirth, Wheel of samsara, Wheel of suffering, Wheel of transformation Central Ring: The 3 Poisons of the Wheel of Life In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, it is believed that the drawing was designed by the Buddha himself in order to help ordinary people understand the Buddhist teachings. The bhavacakra is a symbolic representation of samsara found on the outside walls of Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Indo-Tibet region. Legend has it that the Buddha himself created the first depiction of the bhavacakra, and the story of how he gave the illustration to King Rudrayana appears in the anthology of Buddhist narratives called the Divyavadana. Legendary Story of the Wheel of Life Painting It has very fine details with beautiful representation of small elements. Masterpiece Wheel of Life Tibetan Thangka is handpainted on cotton canvas in Nepal. ![]()
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