Original Hand Painted Wheel Of Life /Bhavacakra Mandala Masterpiece 24k Gold Tibetan Meditation compassion thangka/thanka painting

Samsara, also known as the "Bhavacakra" or the Wheel of Life, is a powerful meditation tool recognized by Buddhist monks and students alike for its role in understanding the teachings of the Buddha. This Wheel illustrates the reasons for our suffering in the mortal form through both horrific and sublime imagery, often painted on the walls of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries across the Himalayan regions.

**Size:** 18 x 23 inches (46 x 58 cm)

Essentially, the Wheel is a metaphysical diagram consisting of four concentric circles, firmly encircled by Yama, the Lord of Death. Above the Wheel, the sky, depicted with clouds or stars, symbolizes freedom from the cycle of existence, or Samsara. The Buddha points at the sky, indicating that liberation is achievable. In the center of the Wheel are three animal symbols representing the "Three Poisons": ignorance (the pig), attachment (the bird), and anger (the snake). The snake and bird appear to emerge from the pig's mouth, symbolizing that anger and attachment stem from ignorance. Conversely, both the snake and the bird grasp the tail of the pig, suggesting that they further promote ignorance.

The next layer of the Wheel is divided into two half-circles: one light-colored and the other dark. These sections represent the Wheel of Karma, the law of cause and effect. The darker half depicts individuals experiencing the consequences of negative actions, while the lighter portion shows people reaping the benefits of positive actions and achieving spiritual growth.

Beyond this layer lies a broader area, divided into six parts, each representing a distinct realm of Samsara. These six realms encompass all possible states of existence in the universe, with all beings cycling between them. They can be categorized into higher and lower realms:

**The Three Higher Realms:**

1. **The Human Realm:**
The human realm encompasses everyday experiences, combining pleasure and pain. This balance enables greater awareness and provides an opportunity for spiritual realization, making it the most suitable realm for practicing the dharma.

2. **The Semi-Gods Realm:**
Inhabitants of this realm, known as titans, are constantly dissatisfied with their possessions, leading to conflict and jealousy, rather than suffering from greed or desire.

3. **The Realm of the Gods:**
These gods are depicted as beings similar to humans, enjoying lives filled with abundance and pleasure. However, they often pursue meaningless distractions and neglect the practice of dharma, leading to a depletion of their good Karma and potential rebirth in lower realms.

**The Three Lower Realms:**

4. **The Hell Realm:**
Hell is typically represented as a place of intense torment, where beings endure unimaginable suffering inflicted by demons. The Buddhist tradition describes eighteen "hells," which can be either hot or cold in nature.

5. **The Hungry Ghosts Realm:**
This realm is inhabited by creatures suffering from extreme and perpetual hunger and thirst, endlessly seeking sustenance that only causes them further agony.

6. **The Animals Realm:**
In this realm, life is primarily about self-preservation. Animals live in constant fear, suffering from attacks by other animals, illustrating the refusal to see beyond physical needs.

In some representations of the Wheel of Life, a Buddha or bodhisattva is depicted within each realm, guiding the beings there toward nirvana. The outermost ring of the Wheel details the process of cause and effect, divided into twelve parts that illustrate phases of the law of Karma, which keeps us trapped in the six realms of cyclic existence.
The twelve causal links and their corresponding allegories are as follows:

1. **Avidyā (Ignorance)**: Represented by a blind man, often depicted walking.
2. **Saṃskāra (Mental Formations)**: Illustrated by a potter shaping a vessel.
3. **Vijñāna (Consciousness)**: Depicted as a man or a monkey grasping a fruit.
4. **Nāmarūpa (Name and Form)**: Represented by two men afloat in a boat.
5. **Ṣaḍāyatana (Six Senses)**: Illustrated as a dwelling with six windows.
6. **Sparśa (Contact)**: Depicted as two lovers kissing or entwined.
7. **Vedanā (Feeling)**: Represented by a man with an arrow in his eye.
8. **Tṛṣṇa (Craving)**: Illustrated as a drinker receiving a drink.
9. **Upādāna (Grasping)**: Depicted as a man or a monkey picking fruit.
10. **Bhava (Existence)**: Represented by a couple engaged in intercourse or a standing reflective person.
11. **Jāti (Rebirth)**: Illustrated as a woman giving birth.
12. **Jarāmaraṇa (Aging and Death)**: Depicted as a corpse being carried.

Bhavacakra Thangka paintings typically include an inscription at the bottom that explains the process that keeps us in Samsara and offers guidance on how to reverse it. According to the teachings of the Buddha, he stated:

"I have shown you the path that leads to liberation, but you should know that liberation depends upon yourself."

The Wheel of Life is also known by several other names, including:

- Wheel of Becoming
- Wheel of Cyclic Existence
- Wheel of Existence
- Wheel of Rebirth
- Wheel of Saṃsāra
- Wheel of Suffering
- Wheel of Transformation

Before making a purchase, please take note of the following important information:
- Each painting is hand-painted, making every piece unique.
- Differences in lighting and screen resolution may result in slight color variations.
- Paintings are even more captivating when viewed in person.
- The size specified for the painting does not include the outer border.
- All paintings will be securely packed in a PVC tube to ensure safe transit.
- Buyers are responsible for any additional fees at their destination, including import taxes and duties, which are not included in the purchase price.
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