3/20/2024 0 Comments Tibetan thangka wheel of lifeThis is one of the basic points of this teaching it shows us how easy it is to go from one state to another, or how impossible it is to remain in one of them, whether we want to or not. The realms are transitory and relate to feelings and conditions of mind. And when we’re not obsessed or taken over by any extreme states of mind, we reside in a fairly harmonious, balanced state as a so-called sane, human living. Sometimes also jealousy takes us-we want what someone else has, and we want it now, or we at least wish they didn’t have it, anyway. From time to time, we’re also in heaven where everything seems to be just perfect, for the moment. Occasionally-or more than occasionally-we enter hell and suffer the torment of grief, fear and anguish. Or, we’re like animals-we live just for our own basic needs all the while, unconcerned with the needs of others. Sometimes we are like hungry ghosts-we can’t settle in our place we always want something, or more of something-hungry for this or that. In each, the Buddha is portrayed offering an escape, because none of these situations is totally satisfactory, not even the tranquillity of heaven. There are six realms within this wheel-a heavenly realm a realm of jealousy an animal realm a hell realm a realm of hungry ghosts and a human realm. There is no physical face staring back at us, however, instead the reflection is of the experiences in our lives-all the possibilities open to us-in the form of a wheel. He is shown holding up a great, round mirror. The first thing that one notices in these vivid Tibetan scrolls ( thangkas), is the a large character representing the Lord of Death. It has everything in it as far as the Buddha’s teaching is concerned, and the Tibetans, among others, have used it since time immemorial. Most will agree, I am sure, that the Wheel of Life never loses its value as an object of contemplation. I was therefore prompted to write this short introduction a s a reminder of this fascinating teaching-aid. I received an interesting piece recently by Jamie Gargett-which follows this preamble-about the realm of the hungry ghosts on the Wheel of Life.
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