One of the oldest depictions of the Dharma Wheel may be found on the pillars erected by the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka the Great. The Dharma Wheel has often been depicted in art. During the second and third turnings, the Buddha introduced the concepts of emptiness and compassion, and unveiled the philosophy of Buddha-nature. The first turning corresponds to the Buddha’s sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath, in which he spoke about the Four Noble Truths. The turning of the Wheel of Dharma represents the spiritual progression generated by the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha is known also as the one who ‘turned the Wheel of Dharma’, and the motion of the wheel itself contains the teachings of the Buddha. Finally, there are Dharma Wheels with 31 spokes, and these represent the 31 realms of existence in Buddhist cosmology. Some Dharma Wheels have 24 spokes, and represents both the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination and the reversing of these links, or the 24 qualities that Buddhists ought to strive for. Dharma Wheels may also have 10 or 12 spokes, the former representing the ten directions, whereas the latter the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. Dharma Wheels rarely have four spokes, but when these occur, the spokes symbolise the Four Noble Truths, or the four dhyanas (a series of cultivated states of mind). These spokes are meant to represent the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of the eight practices that would lead a person to liberation from samsara (the cycle of rebirth). The Dharma Wheel is most commonly depicted as having eight spokes. The Dharmachakra sometimes resembles a chariot wheel ( TWiRote / Adobe Stock) The Noble Eightfold Path The spokes represent the wisdom and awareness needed to dispel ignorance, whilst the rim represents the state of consciousness required to hold everything together. As the centre of the wheel, the hub symbolises discipline and mental stability, which are vital for meditation. For instance, the shape of the wheel, which is a circle, represents the perfection of the dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha, whereas the three components (the hub, the spokes, and the rim) represent the three aspects of Buddhist teachings that relate to ethics, wisdom, and concentration. The Dharma Wheel is rich in symbolism and may be interpreted in a number of ways. The different number of spokes represent different ideas. Although the Dharma Wheel is commonly depicted as having eight spokes, this is not always the case. For example, the hub may be an empty circle, another wheel, a yin-yang symbol, or three shapes swirling together. These elements of the Dharma Wheel, however, may be depicted in a variety of ways. The Dharma Wheel is also described as being the wheel of a chariot, and consists of three elements – the hub, the rim, and the spokes. In Hinduism, the wheel / discus is regarded to be a powerful weapon capable of conquering passions and desires.ĭharma Wheel Buddhist symbol ( Vladyslav Danilin / Adobe Stock) Wheel of a Chariot This well-known Buddhist symbol may have had its origins in Hinduism, as the god Vishnu is commonly depicted as carrying a wheel / discus. The word ‘dharma’ may be translated to mean ‘law’, and therefore, the Dharma Wheel may be said to be the Wheel of Law. The wheel’s symbolism, however, may be interpreted in a number of different ways. Known also as a Dharmachakra, the Dharma Wheel in Buddhism is an important symbol that represents the teachings of Buddha. Although the Dharma Wheel is found also in Hinduism and Jainism, it is best-known as a Buddhist symbol. The Dharma Wheel is an Ashtamangala, or one of ‘Eight Auspicious Symbols’, a set of sacred symbols found in Indian religions.
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