![]() Occasionally-or more than occasionally-we enter hell and suffer the torment of grief, fear and anguish. Or, we’re like animals-we live just for our own basic needs all the while, unconcerned with the needs of others. Sometimes we are like hungry ghosts-we can’t settle in our place we always want something, or more of something-hungry for this or that. ![]() In each, the Buddha is portrayed offering an escape, because none of these situations is totally satisfactory, not even the tranquillity of heaven. There are six realms within this wheel-a heavenly realm a realm of jealousy an animal realm a hell realm a realm of hungry ghosts and a human realm. There is no physical face staring back at us, however, instead the reflection is of the experiences in our lives-all the possibilities open to us-in the form of a wheel. He is shown holding up a great, round mirror. Here is the story in brief:īut roast with fire my flesh I yield, if thou with us wouldst live.The first thing that one notices in these vivid Tibetan scrolls ( thangkas), is the large character representing the Lord of Death. The story behind the rabbit in the moon can be found in the Jataka tales, in the story entitled "The Hare's Self-Sacrifice". Quote from: Midakpa on December 10, 2011, 01:56:03 AM I agree with Vajrastorm that the rabbit in the moon represents compassion. Is anyone aware there are two verses written at the bottom of the Wheel of Life which is left out in many of the Thangkas? I wonder if it is in the original version as instructed by Lord Buddha to King Bimbisara, a later addition or its just laziness on the part of the thangka painters to leave it out. Is there a deeper meaning to the Buddha figure pointing to the moon w rabbit on the left side and the sun on his side ? If the moon & rabbit represents wisdom and compassion, what about the sun ?Ģ. As with anything which happened thousands of years ago, would be great if forum members check out if there are different versions of how this Wheel of Life thangka came about. A caution is to be careful to not identify with details that are simply ' mistakes' by the artists or craftsmen.ġ. Every detail in Tibetan Buddhist symbology whether in the form of statues, paintings, thangkas etc means something and linked to enlightenment. The more I look at thangkas, the more I find details which are sometimes glossed over or missed by us entirely. ![]() Thank you Midakpa for very convincing account and explanation. Thus in the Wheel of Life, the Buddha is pointing to the moon (wisdom) and the rabbit (bodhicitta), two elements which are needed to end cyclic existence and to become enlightened. Sakka then said to the Bodhisattva: " O wise hare, be thy virtue known throughout a whole aeon." And squeezing the mountain, with the essence thus extracted, he daubed the sign of a hare on the orb of the moon. But his body did not burn because the fire is icy-cold. The hare shook his fur thrice to allow insects within his coat to escape anf fell on the live coals. Sakka, by his miraculous power, manifested a heap of burning coals. "Nor sesame, nor beans, nor rice have I as food to give.īut roast with fire my flesh I yield, if thou with us wouldst live." Go, friend, and when you have piled together logs of wood, and kindled a fire, come and let me know, and I will sacrifice myself by falling into the midst of the flames, and when body is roasted, you shall eat my flesh and fulfill all your ascetic duties." This day will I grant you a boon that I have never granted before but you shall not break the moral law by taking animal life. The otter, jackal and monkey offered what they have collected, but the hare, not having anything to offer, said to Sakka: "Brahmin, you have done well in coming to me for food. Sakka (Indra), in the guise of a Brahmin, decided to test them. The otter stole some fish from a fisherman, the jackal stole a lizard and a pot of milk curd from a field-watcher, and the monkey gathered some mangoes, intending to eat their food at a later date. They all agreed and started to gather food. One day, being a fast-day, the hare asked his friends to feed any beggars that came to them. The hare was a Bodhisattva and lived in the woods with his friends - a monkey, a jackal and an otter. I agree with Vajrastorm that the rabbit in the moon represents compassion.
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