The wheel of life (MAndala) – Sidpai Khorlo
This world is known as cycling world-Khorwa. It’s a kind of mandala, the world of karma, samaric world. It is held in the mouth of the ferocious animal, Yamaraja (the Lord of Death) or Choekyi Gyalpo.
Due to our defilements (Nyoenmongpai dug Nga) or five poisons filled within us, we see him as Yamaraja form but actually he is the manifestation of Chenrize (Avolokiteshvara), the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the wrathful form which we see him as Yamaraja in hell. The picture shows that all the living beings that are born within the circle have to die and therefore it represents death. The main cause of suffering is depicted within the centre of the figure.
Three defilements (Dugsum)
1-Ignorance (Timug)
2-Desire (Doechag)
3-Anger (Zheydang)
These three poisons are present within us which hold us into the world of samsara.
The figure Pig symbolizes ignorance or darkness because the pigs think about nothing rather than eating and sleeping. Similarly, we human beings are also like pigs, doesn’t think about the future and always commit sin.
The Rooster symbolizes desire or greed because the cock’s does love with number of hens but his love is never satisfied. The more he does, the more he desires. Similarly, we human beings also possess this kind of desire. The more we want, the more we desire.
The Snake/Serpent symbolizes anger or revenge as the snakes are usually short tempered. Even if we hurt him little, he will be angry and take revenge to us by biting. Similarly, we also possess this kind of anger when somebody hurt us as we can’t tolerate. These three pictures are chosen because they represent the three poisons in the human beings.
The ratio of Buddha nature to poison seed is 1:3 and therefore it is hard to bloom the Buddha nature between the three poisons. For instance, if we try to grow good crops between lots of weeds, it is impossible. Due to these poisons, we human beings can’t attain Buddha hood. If we are subjected to more poisons, the outer black picture shows that we will be dragged towards the hell after death. Suppose if we manage to cut down all the defilement's or the three poisons, we will attain Buddha nature and get enlightened after death. We have to practice religion and meditation as a weapon to cut down all the defilement's so that the Buddha nature within us will flourish.
Therefore the world itself depicts the picture of our self.
All the animals present in the hell are actually not animals, they are all gods but due to our defilement,s, we see them in those wrathful forms. The gods in the hell does not actually punish us, they are like a parent who tries to correct us and even if they punish us, they does not do out of hatred but out of love and compassion to cure all our defilements, so that we can be enlightened and get a chance to be reborn in the world.
Chenrize, the God of Compassion tries to reach himself to all the six worlds (Drowa Rig drug) and his main objective is to save all the creatures from the suffering, he feels mercy to all, so in order to save all these creatures, he created the Six Syllables mantras-Om Mani Padme Hung.
The Six Worlds (Six Realms)
God (Lha) If we acquire certain good virtues, we will be born in the heaven after death. In the heaven, they don’t have to do nothing and will be always enjoying provided anything by the wish fulfilling tree. During their stay in heaven, they will not do any religious works and enjoy till their previous earned good virtues vanish. There is also a wish fulfilling water, river [[Mandakin]i or Chumo Deldro, having eight qualities of heavenly water.
They know when they will die as they can read the future, when the death approaches, each god has an individual tree of life(Sogshing), that tree will wither which shows they will die. And during their life, they did not do any religious deeds, so they will be straightaway born in the hell. Among the six mantras of Chenrize, Om-white in colour stands for god realm and applied to the souls of those gods so that they can be liberated from the suffering of long life. The color of the Buddha is white and he carries a dramngyen.
Demi-God If we are very envy and jealous to others at present, we will be born in the world of demigods (Lhamin). They always suffer from conflict and there is no peace at all and there are every chances of being killed. They fight with gods because of the wish fulfilling tree. This tree is a miracle tree, its roots are in the world of demigods but the head of the tree is in the god’s heaven and therefore the fruits are always taken by the gods. And even if the tree is cut down, it grows automatically and the demigods feel annoyed and therefore fight with the gods. Among the six mantras, Ma- green in color is applied to the world of demigods, so that they can be liberated from the suffering of war and strife. Buddha carries a sword (reldri) in his left hand and dralha (shield) in the right hand.
Human World If we practice dharma, be kind to others and do good things, even if we commit sin as there is a balanced act, we will be born in the world of human being after death. We know everything that is good and bad but still then nothing is permanent in this world as we suffer from birth, illness and death (Kega Nachiyi Dugnyel). Among the six mantras, Ne- yellow in color is applied to the world of human beings so that they can be saved from the suffering of birth, illness, death, sorrows, etc. The color of the Buddha is yellow and he carries a walking stick in his right hand and a begging bowl in his left hand.
Animal World If we are subjected to ignorance, being lazy without doing any productive work, next time we will be born in the world of animals. These animals always live in fear of being eaten or killed by other animal or human beings. Among the six mantras, Pad- blue in color is applied to the world of animals so that they can be liberated from the suffering of fear of being killed by other animals. The color of the Buddha is blue and he carries Pustaka of tantric (Choeki Poti) in his right hand.
Hungry Ghost If we are greedy and selfish to others, we will be born in the world of hungry ghost (Traekomgi Dugnyel) after death. These people always suffer from hungriness and thirsty even if there is abundance of food and water available but due to their thin neck and big stomach, they can’t swallow the food. Among the six mantras, Me- red in color is applied to the world of hungry ghosts in order to liberate them from the suffering of hungriness and thirsty. The color of the Buddha is red and he carries a small box in his right hand.
Hell If we commit all the three poisons, we will be born in the hell after death. These people suffer from extreme cold and heat (Tshadangi Dugnyel). There will be 16 chambers where we will be subjected to torture. These are 8 chambers of heat (Tshangyel Gyad) and 8 chamber of cold (Dangngyel Gyad). Among the six mantras, Hung- dark blue in color is applied to the world of hell so that they can be liberated from the suffering of coldness and heatness. .The color of the Buddha is dark blue and he carries fire in his right hand and a bowl with water in his left hand. Hri- stands for Sangay Yoepamey (Amitabha) : let all be enlightened.
Twelve Dependent Origination/Tendrel Chungyi)
The reason for the presence of three poisons in us is due to-
Ignorance (Marigpa) It is compared to a blind old hag.
Violational Action (Dujedki Ley) Because of your ignorance, you begin to act in the wrong way. This is called dujed or volitional action. Any occupation born of your mental formation like a potter making pots.
Conscious Mind (Namshey) Namshey is that invisible force or conscious within everybody that makes you do things whether bad or good. It is compared to a monkey because his mind is uncertain as it jumps from one tree to another. Similarly, human minds also hover from one place to another.
Name (Mingzug) Ming is the power which helps us to perceive things. It is only in name but we cannot see. The zug is the body through which the power of perception opens into the external world. The entry of sense of perception into bodily forms is compared to that of a man entering in a boat.
Six Sense (Kemchey) The name created and the body has to activate and this have to be done through the six senses. If they are not based on some inner power to activate, they will not work. Therefore it is like an empty town or temple.
Contact (Regpa) The eyes have to come in contact with the body to enable it to see and the ears with an external sound to make things hear. This is called contact which is compared to kissing a child.
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Feelings (Tshorwa) Out of contact comes a feeling of love and suffering. It is compared to one being hit in the eye by an arrow.
Desire (Chagpa) It is the desire to enjoying or possessing a thing. It is compared to a person drinking alcohol.
Possession (Lenpa) Taking possession of the object you desire. It is compared to a person wanting a fruit and plucking it from the tree.
Suffering (Sidpa) Suffering born out of your action. You cannot see virtue or sin, yet because of the virtuous act, you will be rewarded and so too it commits sin, you will be punished. That is sidpa like a pregnant woman. After satisfying the desire by possessing it, becomes pregnant and suffer by carrying the baby in the womb of the mother for 9 months and then giving birth.
Rebirth (Kewa) Depending on your actions in the present life, you will be born in different worlds. That is called kewa and is compared to a woman giving birth.
Aging and Death (Ga Shi) Aging and ultimately death that is the reality of life and is compared to a man carrying a corpse/dead body to the funeral ground.
SonamJune 13, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Brief Understanding of the Wheel of Life
This picture depicts that every suffering in this world is born out of ignorance. Due to ignorance, we practice the three poisons and these are created because we have a body which has a mind and give a name. The body starts working due to six senses and these six senses works which creates a desire which ultimately ends in suffering.
For example, a person makes a pot and his desire is everlasting and getting enough money after selling it but at the same time, he worries whether he can sell it or not and get the money that he expects.
Likewise we will be repeating our life by depending on each other but the real happiness lies beyond this wheel of life that has attained enlightenment.
-The world (Khorwa) or the Samsara is like a walking sand, the more you walk, the more you sink. Similarly, the more you work or acquire wealth, the more you worry or become unhappiness.
- Its just a symbol to show that everyone in this world should die.
Total Numbers Born in these Six Realms
God and People- it is equal to the dust present in the nails of the human beings,
Hungry Ghost- it is equal to the sand present by the side of River Ganga.
Hell- it is equal to the dust turned from a huge mountain.
Animal- it is equal to the wheat or grain which is used to make alcohol.
Source
http://bhutanhomeexpeditions.blogspot.com/2010/06/wheel-of-life-mandala-sidpai-khorlo.html [[Category:]]
