{"product_id":"hand-painted-wheel-of-life-thangka-painting-tibetan-buddhist-art","title":"Hand-Painted Wheel of Life Thangka Painting - Tibetan Buddhist Art","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an original, hand-painted Buddha Life Bhavachakra Samsara Mandala that has been oil-varnished for added protection and visual appeal. The Wheel of Life, or \"Bhavacakra,\" is a powerful meditation tool among Buddhist monks and an essential learning resource for students to understand the teachings of the Buddha. It represents the reasons for our mortal form's suffering through both horrific and sublime imagery. The Wheel is frequently depicted on the walls of many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries throughout the Himalayan regions. It is a metaphysical diagram of four concentric circles, firmly held in place by Yama, the Lord of Death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAbove the Wheel, the sky, with clouds or stars, symbolizes freedom from cyclic existence, or Samsara. The Buddha pointing at it indicates that liberation is possible. In the center of the Wheel, there are three animal symbols of the \"Three Poisons\": ignorance (the pig), attachment (the bird), and anger (the snake). The snake and bird are shown as coming out of the mouth of the pig, indicating that anger and attachment arise from ignorance. At the same time, the snake and the bird grasp the pig's tail, suggesting that they both promote even greater ignorance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe second layer is next to the central circle, divided into two half-circles, one light-colored and the other usually dark. These images represent the Wheel of Karma, the law of cause and effect. The darker portion shows individuals experiencing the results of negative actions. The light half circle, instead, indicates people experiencing the results of positive actions and attaining spiritual ascension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond this layer lies a broader area, divided into six parts, each depicting a distinct realm of Samsara. These six realms constitute all possible states of existence in the universe, and all beings cycle between these states. They can be divided into higher realms and lower realms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe three higher realms are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1) The Human Realm\u003cbr\u003e\nThe human realm is the world of everyday experience. Buddhism teaches that such harmonious balance allows us to pursue spiritual realization. This is why the human world is considered the most suitable realm for practicing dharma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e2) The Semi-Gods Realm\u003cbr\u003e\nThe titans that live in this realm spend their time fighting among themselves or making war with the gods. These semi-gods do not suffer from desire or greed but from constant fighting and jealousy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e3) The Realm of the Gods\u003cbr\u003e\nThese gods spend their existence pursuing meaningless distractions and never think of practicing the dharma. This way, they deplete their good Karma, and they will suffer through being reborn in the lower realms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe three lower realms are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e4) The Hell Realm\u003cbr\u003e\nHell is typically represented as a place of intense torment where beings endure unimaginable suffering. The victims are subjected to the most terrible tortures inflicted by demons. In the Buddhist tradition, there are eighteen \"hells\" that can be hot or cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e5) The Hungry Ghosts Realm\u003cbr\u003e\nThis realm is inhabited by pathetic creatures suffering from extreme and perpetual hunger and thirst. They wander constantly in search of food and drink. However, even if they get what they want, it will cause them intense agony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e6) The Animal Realm\u003cbr\u003e\nIn this realm, life is based on self-preservation. Animals live in constant fear and suffer from being attacked and eaten by other animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn some Wheel of Life representations, a Buddha or bodhisattva is depicted within each realm, attempting to guide the beings residing there toward nirvana. The outermost concentric ring of the Wheel of Life presents the process of cause and effect in detail. The circle is divided into twelve parts, each depicting a phase of the law of Karma, which keeps us trapped in the six realms of cyclic existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe twelve causal links and the corresponding allegories are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1) Avidyā: Ignorance - a blind man, often walking.\u003cbr\u003e\n2) Saṃskāra: Mental Formations - a potter shaping a vessel.\u003cbr\u003e\n3) Vijñāna: Consciousness - a man or a monkey grasping a fruit\u003cbr\u003e\n4) Nāmarūpa: Name and form - two men afloat in a boat\u003cbr\u003e\n5) Ṣaḍāyatana: Six senses - a dwelling with six windows\u003cbr\u003e\n6) Sparśa: Contact - two lovers kissing or entwined\u003cbr\u003e\n7) Vedanā: Feeling - a man with an arrow in the eye\u003cbr\u003e\n8) Tṛṣṇa: Craving - a drinker receiving a drink\u003cbr\u003e\n9) Upādāna: Grasping - a man or a monkey picking fruit\u003cbr\u003e\n10) Bhava: Existence - a couple engaged in intercourse or a standing reflective person\u003cbr\u003e\n11) Jāti: Rebirth - a woman giving birth\u003cbr\u003e\n12) Jarāmaraṇa: Aging and Death - a corpse being carried\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBhavacakra Thangka paintings usually contain an inscription on the bottom explaining the process that keeps us in Samsara and how to reverse that process according to the teachings of the Buddha, who said, \"I have shown you the path that leads to liberation. But you should know that liberation depends upon yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 15 x 20 Inch ( 38 x 51 cm)- Excluuding Surroundingn Border\u003cbr\u003e\nSurface: Handmade Cotton Canvas\u003cbr\u003e\nColors Used:  Dust of  Gold, Oil, Tibetan Hide Glue Mixture, Smoky and Oily Combination\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlease note the following important information before buying:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e- Color may vary slightly due to lighting and screen resolution.\u003cbr\u003e\n- Paintings are more captivating in person.\u003cbr\u003e\n- The mentioned size does not include the outer border.\u003cbr\u003e\n- Paintings will be packed securely in a PVC Tube.\u003cbr\u003e\n- Buyers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, and extra charges in the destination country, which \u003cbr\u003e\n  are not included in the purchase price.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tibetan Thangka Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53226449666345,"sku":"BHAVACHA1520","price":336.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0803\/1282\/8201\/files\/il_fullxfull.6862450987_ls45.jpg?v=1780499973","url":"https:\/\/www.tibetanthangkaart.com\/fr\/products\/hand-painted-wheel-of-life-thangka-painting-tibetan-buddhist-art","provider":"Tibetan Thangka Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}