This diagram summarizes the Buddha’s enlightening vision under the bodhi tree. It explains the cyclical process of life, death, and rebirth (samsara). The Lord of Death, Yama, grips a wheel driven by three animals representing the mental poisons—attachment rooster), anger (snake), and ignorance (pig)—at its hub.In the next circle from the center, people move upward to higher states of consciousness (light) and downward to afflicted states (dark). Their actions, polluted by the poisons, propel them in a continuous cycle of rebirth in the six realms of existence, depicted in the large segments around the two inner circles. These are the realms of gods and demi-gods (top left), humans (top right), animals (lower left), hungry ghosts (lower right), and hells (bottom). The wheel’s outer rim is the symbolic chain of causality that binds this closed circle with no clear way out.When the Buddha comprehended its structure and dynamics of this cycle, he was also able to discern a pathway out of it that others can learn and follow. This is why the Buddha appears both outside the wheel, at the upper right, and within it, pointing the way out by teaching the Dharma.

Artwork Details

Title
Wheel of Life
Dimensions
65 5/8 × 40 3/4 × 1 1/2 in.
Medium
Pigments on cloth
Origin
Tibet
Classification(s)
scroll painting paintings
Date
early 20th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2004.21.1
HAR Number
65356
Published references
* Lucic, Karen. Embodying Compassion in Buddhist Art: Image, Pilgrimage, Practice. Poughkeepsie, New York: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 2015. Fig. 35; Pp. 37-38.* Mullin, Glenn H. Buddha in Paradise: A Celebration in Himalayan Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2007. Fig. 6; Pp. 28-29.* Auction catalog, Christie's, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art Including Indian Paintings," New York, March 25, 2004, Sale 1355, Lot 93.* Exhibition catalogue, "Light of Compassion: Buddhist Art from Nepal and Tibet," London, Spink & Son, Ltd., cat. no. 31, October 1997.* Exhibition catalogue, "Monasterios y lamas del Tibet," Madrid, Fundaci≤n "La Caixa", 2000, cat. no. 80 (p. 131)* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 226, 228* Hofer, Theresia, Bodies in Balance: The Art of Tibetan Medicine. Seattle: University of Washington Press; New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Fig. 0.3, pp. 8-10, 37

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Karma

Concepts

The functioning of cause and effect across time. Buddhists believe that everything we experience is the result of past actions, and everything we initiate has future consequences. Karma encourages actions to bring about positive outcomes and a better future.

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Instruction

Concepts

Teachings and precepts that offer practical and experiential guidance. In Buddhism instruction is primarily an oral tradition and is often targeted to the specific needs or disposition of a student or disciple.

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Cyclicality

Concepts

The continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth known as samsara. Buddhists believe that it is possible to exit this cycle if one achieves a state of awakening or nirvana by following a prescribed path. 

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Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

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