The rim – This reflects one’s capability to bind together the teaching of the Buddha through meditation.
The components of the wheel are the spokes, rim and hub, which, though different in their makeup, all come together to create the wheel.
Buddhism symbol wheel of life free#
So, dharma as the law and rule of Buddhism is symbolised as a wheel.Īlso, like a wheel, the dharma indicates the endless cycle of death and of rebirth we all experience and from which we can only break free through the teaching of the Buddha. Why is dharma represented as a wheel? And why are there depictions of the wheel with varying numbers of spokes within the wheel?īeing circular in shape, the wheel is seen to signify the perfection of the Buddha’s teachings. In Buddhist art, the dharma wheel is often used to represent Buddha himself. The wheel can be seen to represent the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the Eightfold Path that needs to be followed to reach Enlightenment or the dependent origination in which all dharma is dependent on other dharma. Again, we see the symbolism of law and order associated with the dharma. Within Buddhism, the dharma wheel is considered to represent the teachings and morality of the Buddha. This concept of law and order is also extended to the religious practices a pious Hindu must follow. Vishnu is considered to be the protector of humanity and therefore the dharma wheel is seen to represent Vishnu’s efforts in restoring and keeping order in the world. The Hindu god Vishnu is usually shown with the dharma wheel. The word “dharma” comes from the stem “dhr” and means law, something that is fixed and immovable. To fully grasp how the symbolism behind the Dharma wheel has changed we need to look at what dharma actually refers to. Yet, the meaning behind the wheel evolved beyond this original understanding. We have already seen how the Dharma wheel was considered to represent the sun in both the Indus civilisation and Hinduism.
%2Bweb%2Bquality.jpg "buddhism symbol wheel of life")
It remains one of the most important Buddhist symbols. In Buddhism, the Dharma wheel is seen to represent enlightenment. So, the Dharma wheel still finds an association with the sun, but the meaning behind the wheel extends to light and knowledge as one seeks the truth. Surya is also seen in the god Mitra who is seen as the eye of the world, just as the Sun is considered to be watching over the earth. In Hinduism, the association of the Dharma wheel with the sun was carried over through the Hindu deity, Surya, whose name is the Sanskrit word for “sun”. It may have symbolized the sun during this time. Is A Ship’s Wheel A Reference to The Dharma?Īlthough the Dharma Wheel, also known as the dharma chakra, is associated with Buddhism and Hinduism, it predates both these religions, with its original appearance in the Indus Valley civilisation.
Buddhism symbol wheel of life how to#
0 kommentar(er)
