Buddha's Six Realms

The Tibetan wheel of life bhavacakra or samsara is sacred and one of the most prominent pieces in Buddhist art. This drawing of the cycle of life can be seen in many monasteries and scrolls all over Buddhist temples. There are only a couple original examples of this wheel that are still in existence today many were destroyed in a Moslem invasion. Several theories exsist as to why this was created and its exact meaning remains a mystery. To the Divine Buddha and his disciples the painting was told to be the gateway to Veluvana Vihara. Buddha had directed Maudgalyana to take his teachings and create this painting. Buddha wanted him to paint the picture showing all these realms so they could teach people through this painting. Buddha wanted the
painting to show all those that enter the temple the path to take. The painting is outside every entrance to all temples and monastery’s. This wheel represents the total human experiences from the good to the bad the basic and to the fulfilled. The wheel of life is a mirror reflecting our true selves.
It reminds us of where we have been and where we currently are and what we could eventually become. It gives us insight on how to control our fate and change our path in life. There are two paths we choose either the Black path or the White path. Inside these paths are twelve causes and consequences that can lead us to rebirth into any of the six different worlds. The wheel is setup to show us how we can move from world to world. The six realms consist of the realm of the gods, the titan realm and the hell realm along with the human and the animal realms, and then finally the ghost realm. Every human being is reborn into a new realm depending on how the Karma from their past life decides the placement of which world they shall enter. In the center of this wheel there is the root of evil this is the force that drives the wheel that moves life. Inside of here is painted the three unwholesome beings the cock snake and pig. These represent the things that drive all men to misery they are Greed hatred and ignorance. Surrounding the central hub is the two paths that we must choose the white is the path of bliss and the black is the path of hell and bad
rebirth. Entangled with the central area are the six worlds these represent the spokes of a wheel. The first world is the realm of the Gods in this realm everything is happy and pleasant it is a smooth Free State of mind. This can be a bad thing and not just good. In this realm where everything is perfect one can become complacent we cannot forget why we are here and that life is short. In this world the Buddha tries to shows us that we must experience frustrations and that not all things are perfect and we must feel this in order to wake up from the dream. The next world the titan world is a constant war. A permanent goes on here never ending. One will always try to reach fulfillment but can never achieve this. In this world jealousy and suspicion are strong frustrations inn here one is always striving to achieve wealth or power. Here one is always trying to achieve the ultimate control and power over everything. The Buddha shows us how to turn this state of mind and feel these emotions in order to use these traits to better the world. The third world is known as the world of man or the human wheel. In this realm egoism and ignorance are strong emotions we also must suffer the permanent cycle of life including birth and death one must feel the pain of life and death to begin to appreciate this life we are given. In this realm one can begin to take self accomplishments to seriously one need to realize that life can be short. Buddha shows us we must devote ourselves completely too spiritual development and evolution in ourselves and those around us. The Fourth world is the Ghosts realm one suffers from extreme hunger and thirst and a never ending desire that one cannot fulfill. These feelings never go away they always follow one in this realm.
This represents desire what we desire can never extinguish the need we may obtain what we desire but can never quench the thirst for more. This can be seen in an addict craving something that will never quench the desire. Buddha can be seen in this world teaching us to look at what we desire and whether it truly can give us happiness to see that desire cannot give us happiness but lead us down the wrong path and only the spiritual can fulfill our need. The fifth world the animal represents oppression by others the animals in this world they can attack others this otherwise called the beasts of burden. In this realm one desires food sex and material things. As long as we have these we are happy and satisfied but when we cannot have them we become like wild animals craving that which we cannot have. We can see that humans are willing to devour anything in the way in order to fulfilling those cravings. Buddha can be seen with a book reading and learning for one to make it through this world one must be civilized. Buddha says that bringing culture and a learning of the arts and sciences is what a human needs to fulfill this craving. What we truly are craving is knowledge. The final world hell is a world of torment for those committing evil out
of anger. This is completely different in other religions where hell is seen as permanent but in Buddhism one can escape this realm. One must atone for their actions and when they have reached atonement for the evil deeds then they can be reborn into another world. Buddha can be seen to bring hope into this world and to let us know all is not lost you can be reborn from this evil world. Even though things look dark and bleak one can still make it through this world and move to another. We must take responsibility for our actions.
Surrounding these worlds we have the twelve links in this it shows us a step by step process that one can use to shape our consciousness as we move between each realm. We start with ignorance which is represented by a blind man with a walking stick. This man is used to represent spiritual blindness. As we begin to follow the path of enlightenment one begins to build spiritual site. As we accept the spiritual being then we start to see all that has been missed before opening up to the path. The second link shows a potter making a clay pot. This shows us that we can design and mold our own path and karma. In life our path is as free as the clay and can be manipulated by our hands. With our deeds and actions we can build our own clay pot. The third link is represented by a monkey jumping from tree to tree. This shows us how we move from one object to the next uncontrolled, and shows us how to reach a control over consciousness. To have control over our conscious gives us focus and control so we can then transition to the next link. The fourth link shows a boat with two people this symbolizes the spiritual and physical energies joined together floating through life. The mind and body are intertwined as one floating through the river of life. As our body and mind develops it can open up the fifth link this is where the six senses reside in the circle. It is shown by a house with many windows. This is where we learn to use these senses to allow us to see through all the windows what is outside our body and mind. The Sixth Link is represented by a man and woman embracing each other. This shows us that we need contact from others in order to open the next organ. The seventh link is emotion and is represented by a man with an arrow stuck in his eye. This can show an emotion we may be stuck in and how we can retain the emotion blind to that fact. It also lets us feel those emotions painful and pleasurable and to see how we react to them. That how we react to these feelings can have an impact on our Karma. We must use emotion in a positive way in and be aware to the fact that there are consequences to our actions. The eighth link is Craving this is shown by a woman providing a drink to a man. It lets us feel the desire or thirst for life that all our emotions stimulate and lead us to. But there is the desire of fame and control over others that can become just as dangerous this can also lead us down the wrong path. The ninth link is grasping or sensual entanglement this is the need to keep what we desire and is shown by a man plucking fruit from a tree. This is not only just physical desire, but also a mental clinging, or grasping to physical needs and ideas or views from our past. The tenth circle is becoming it is shown by a beautiful bride starting a new life. If we can obtain these things we can start our new self. The eleventh link is Birth and shows a woman giving birth to a child. This birth or new life can happen in any of the six realms. The twelfth link is Old age and death it shows an old man carrying a corpse in the fetal position ready for rebirth into any of the six realms. It shows us that in order to move from world to world we must experience Birth and Death. This cycle is something that we must follow and can never escape. The outer circle is known as the karma process through the results of this process decides the path of life to death. We notice the emotions and mental steps one must go through on the path of enlightenment. While we are on this path the physical circle continues its normal path birth life and death. In the painting the Buddha sits in the right corner and is used to show that all human and animal regardless of which realm they reside in all have the potential to obtain salvation or rebirth. The Bodhisattva is located to the left of the circle and looks to the worlds with compassion. Weeping for the suffering of all six worlds he shows us the mundane and the transcendental. And is the ideal Buddhist who inspires enlightenment but has vowed to help all follow the path of Nirvana. The monster of Impermanence holds the wheel, and shows us the transitory nature of all earthly phenomena. This is meant to show us the change that we can go through how we transition from world to world. The Buddha and Bodhisattvas cannot give us their wisdom or compassion they only give us advice and encouragement. They cannot help us along our path only encourage or direct us to the way we need to go. The path we choose to take on the wheel must be our choice and our decision alone. As we begin to make our heart grow and break free from suffering that is when we truly see what others need and then compassion for others is what we begin to feel. The wheel of Life is a map a guide to show us the way if we follow Buddha’s teachings we could possibly become heirs to the Buddha Dharma.