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Bhavachakra, "wheel of life," [a] consists of the words bhava and chakra.. bhava (भव) means "being, worldly existence, becoming, birth, being, production, origin". [web 1]In Buddhism, bhava denotes the continuity of becoming (reincarnating) in one of the realms of existence, in the samsaric context of rebirth, life and the maturation arising therefrom. [2]
During the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) Buddhist symbolism became widespread, and symbols like the swastika and the Dharma wheel (Chinese: 法輪; pinyin: fălún, "wheel of life") became well known in China. There were also more elaborate symbols, like Buddhist mandalas and complex images of Buddhas and bodhisattva figures. [12]
Similar wheel symbols were used as a solar symbol by the Ancient Egyptians. [32] Some Buddha statues also depict the related Dharmachakra Mudrā, a hand sign depicting the turning of the Dharma wheel. A very similar wheel symbol also appears in the flag of the Romani people, hinting to their nomadic history.
Like Jainism, Buddhism developed its own saṃsāra theory, that evolved over time the mechanistic details on how the wheel of mundane existence works over the endless cycles of rebirth and redeath. [118] [119] In early Buddhist traditions, saṃsāra cosmology consisted of five realms through which wheel of existence recycled. [111]
[6] [7] The three poisons are represented in the hub of the wheel of life as a pig, a bird, and a snake (representing ignorance, attachment, and aversion, respectively). As shown in the wheel of life (Sanskrit: bhavacakra), the three poisons lead to the creation of karma, which leads to rebirth in the six realms of samsara. [1] [8] [9]
The Six Paths [1] in Buddhist cosmology [2] are the six worlds where sentient beings are reincarnated based on their karma, which is linked to their actions in previous lives. These paths are depicted in the Bhavacakra ("wheel of existence"). [3] The six paths are: [4] the world of gods or celestial beings ; the world of warlike demigods ;
The wheel of joy is commonly depicted at the central hub of the dharmachakra, where its three or four swirls may represent the Three Jewels and victory over the three poisons, or the Four Noble Truths and the four directions. As a symbol of the Three Jewels it may also appear as the "triple-eyed" or wish-granting gem of the chakravartin.
The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala, Snow Lion Publications, 1995; Dalai Lama, Hopkins J. The Kalachakra Tantra, Rite of Initiation Wisdom, 1985; Dhargyey, N. et al. Kalachakra Tantra Motilal Barnassidas; Henning, Edward (2007). Kalacakra and the Tibetan Calendar. Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences. NY: Columbia University Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-0 ...