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At
the centre of the wheel are
three poisonous delusions
represented by a red cockerel
(passion and lust), a green
snake (hatred and aggression),
and a black pig (ignorance and
confusion). These three
creatures chase and bite each
others tails, giving rise to the
endless cycle or becoming.
In
the next circle beings rise to
enter the three higher realms,
or fall to enter the three lower
realms.
The six realms are represented
within the spokes of the wheel.
The hell realm, in the lower
part of the wheel is
characterized by the extreme
suffering of the various hot and
cold hells.
The hunger ghost or preta realm
in the lower left is
characterized by craving and
enormous hunger. The denizens of
this realm having huge empty
stomachs and mouths like
pinholes.
The animal realm is
characterized by extreme
stupidity. The jealous gods in
the upper left, suffer from
competitiveness and ambition as
they strive for the realization
of their desires.
The god realms are sensual
heavens, where the inhabitants
are totally involved in the
pursuit of pleasure.
Only in the human realm, with
its constant fluctuation of
pleasure and pain can the
dharma be clearly heard and
liberation attained.
In
the outer ring are the twelve
links of the chain of dependence
arising. Clockwise from the top
they are:
①
Ignorance (a blind person)
②
Action (a potter)
③
Consciousness (a monkey holding
fruits)
④
Name and form (a person rowing a
boat)
⑤
Sources (an empty house with
five windows and a door)
⑥
Contact (sexual contacts)
⑦
Feeling (a person with an arrow
in his eye)
⑧
Craving (a person drinking
alcohol)
⑨
Grasping (a monkey picking fruit
from a tree)
⑩
Becoming ( a pregnant woman)
⑪
Rebirth (a baby being born)
⑫
Old age and death (an old person
walking with a cane).
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