Wheel of Life Thangka Painting

The Wheel of Life Thangka painting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist art form portraying the cycle of samsara, or life, in its entirety. It displays the Bhavacakra, a diagrammatic map of the Buddhist teachings which depict the causes of suffering and the path to liberation.

The Wheel of Life, located at the center of the Thangka, symbolizes the perpetual cycle of samsara. This wheel is separated into six sections, each correlating to one of the six realms in Buddhist cosmology. They are:

• Gods (Devas): Represented by beings experiencing pleasure, symbolizing attachment and clinging to happiness.
• Titans (Asuras): Depicted as aggressive, power-seeking beings, representing jealousy and aggression.
• Humans: Represent the realm of desire and attachment, marked by a pursuit of pleasure and the experience of suffering.
• Animals: Depicted as animals, representing ignorance and delusion.
• Hungry Ghosts (Pretas): Shown as thin, with long necks and huge stomachs, symbolizing unfulfilled desires and cravings.
• Hell Beings (Narakas): Representing suffering and torment due to negative actions.

At the peak of the Thangka, two Bodhisattvas are nestled in the corners of the Wheel, symbolizing liberation and sageness. The Wheel of Life Thangka works as an educator, typifying the fundamentals of Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path. It serves as a reminder of the transience of our lives, the hardships that come with living, and the ultimate potential for liberation through diligent comprehension and practice. It's commonly implemented in monasteries and for aiding meditation and self-reflection on the road to enlightenment.