The Wheel of Existence
Basic Buddhism (Part III) (Vol. 2; Issue 27)
Welcome aboard The Bus!
The Stop
At the heart of Buddhism is the concept of samsara - the ‘state characterised by suffering, impermanence, and ‘no self’ or essence’ into which humans are continually reborn. This endless cycle of death and rebirth was believed to entrap souls for eternity, but the Buddha realised the cycle isn’t inevitable or the result of fate, but rather it is ‘directly conditioned by … previous actions and thoughts.’ As ‘craving and ignorance of the true nature of things’ keeps us in this cycle, eliminating these means one can attain the ‘state of perfection, liberation and peace known as nirvana’ and break free from samsara forever. In the pre-literate society into which early Buddhism grew, the Buddha’s explanation of both the problem and the solution was illustrated1 by the Wheel of Existence.2 A graphic portrayal of human life and its connection to samsara, the Wheel uses images to represent different aspects of life to teach their interconnection - a lesson ranging from problem to solution, starting at the centre of the picture and working outward.3
In the centre Hub of the Wheel there are three creatures - a cockerel, a snake and a pig. Respectively representing the Three Poisons - greed, hatred and stupidity - each animal bites another’s tail, feeding on each other and spinning the axis. For the Buddha, these Poisons motivate cravings and attachments, binding people to a life of suffering (dukkah) and are thus the root of all human problems. Immediately outside of the Hub two groups of individuals are portrayed: unhappy ones falling downwards as they are trapped in their circumstances, and happy ones moving upwards - freed from life’s changes.
Just past the outside of the Hub is the Outer Wheel which is divided into the Six Realms. Not to be understood as different worlds or states of existence, the Realms instead symbolise the emotional and mental states which dominate the way people think and act. These states of mind are not permanent and people move constantly between them on a daily, hourly or even shorter basis. However, one state may dominate a person’s character - and this state will motivate the person to create/recreate the same kind of karma4 in an endless cycle:
The Realm of Gods represents the temporary joy found from the effects of doing positive things. Joy lasts only for as long as positive karma is present - and this can vanish in an instant.
The Realm of Asuras represents anger and is populated by warlike creatures which remind the viewer that anger - even when directed towards another person - hurts them, too.
The Realm of Pretas represents greed and is populated by hungry, selfish ghosts with enormous stomachs: no matter how much they have, they always want more.
The Realm of Hell represents misery - the state of extreme physical, mental and/or emotional suffering which results from negative karma.
The Realm of Animals represents pleasure motivated by animal instincts - food, sex, material comfort. This happiness is illusory as the drive to satisfy the self comes at the cost of qualities like compassion, justice and foresight.
The Realm of Humanity represents choice - a reminder that humans alone are able to choose whether or not to create good or harm or to follow the Buddha’s teachings or not.
The Outer Circle is next, depicting the Twelve Nidanas5 which illustrate how one thing arises because of another - the reason the Wheel continues to rotate. As a life emerges, it develops senses - and when these have developed, the life makes contact with - and grasps - things outside itself. The problem is that grasping leads to the desire for more life, and the cycle begins again. The cycle is best understood by working backwards from the 12th Nidana:
Holding and biting the Wheel is Yama - the mythical Lord of Death - which is a reminder that everything that is born will die and the cycle of death and rebirth will continue forever. Unless it is stopped, that is, for in the top right corner with his hand outstretched is the Buddha. The Wheel of Existence might show the cycle of reincarnation, but it also shows a way to escape it once and for all: follow the Buddha’s teachings and be free from samsara forever. Mind-blowing stuff.
The Detour
Today’s Detour is to a June 1984 performance of ‘Heart Like a Wheel’ by Linda Ronstadt, Kate and Anna McGarrigle at a concert recorded for TV at the Red Creek Inn in Rochester, New York. The video quality isn’t the best, but the sound is excellent. Enjoy.
The Recommendation
Today’s recommendation is Carl Erik Fisher’s The Urge: Our History of Addiction. A fascinating history of addiction and society’s many attempts to control and cure it, not only is the book informed deeply by the author’s career as an addiction psychiatrist and medical ethicist, but he has first-hand experience as an addict himself. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this most convoluted of topics.
From the back: As a psychiatrist-in-training fresh from medical school, Carl Erik Fisher came face to face with his own addiction crisis, one that nearly cost him everything. Here, he investigates the history of this age-old condition.
Humans have struggled to define, treat, and control addictive behaviour for most of recorded history, including well before the advent of modern science and medicine. The Urge is a rich, sweeping history that probes not only medicine and science but also literature, religion, philosophy, and sociology, illuminating the extent to which the story of addiction has persistently reflected broader questions of what it means to be human and care for one another.
Fisher introduces us to the people who have endeavoured to address this complex condition through the ages: physicians and politicians, activists and artists, researchers and writers, and of course the legions of people who have struggled with their own addictions. He also examines the treatments and strategies that have produced hope and relief.
The Urge is at once an eye-opening history of ideas, a riveting personal story of addiction and recovery, and a clinician’s urgent call for a more expansive, nuanced and compassionate view of one of society’s most intractable challenges.
For more information, here’s The Guardian’s review: Review: The Urge (Guardian)
Remember: You can buy The Urge at Amazon, but you can also get it from your local new or used bookstore - or check it out from the library. And those options are better for everyone.
The Sounds
Today’s playlist is composed of five solid tracks based around the theme of, well, wheels and (at times vaguely) Buddhism. They’re also good tracks in themselves, so don’t read too much into the playlist: ‘Spinning Wheel’ (Blood, Sweat & Tears, 1968), ‘Bodhisattva’ (Steely Dan, 1973), ‘The Great Beyond’ (R.E.M., 1999), ‘Wheel in the Sky’ (Journey, 1978) and ‘Bodhisattva Vow’ (Beastie Boys, 1994).
The Thought
Today’s Thought is from the Russian novelist and short story writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881):6
‘Nothing in the world is harder than speaking the truth and nothing easier than flattery.’
If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below:
And that’s the end of this stop - I hope you enjoyed the diversion!
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Until the next stop …
Especially by Tibetan Buddhism.
Also known as a bhavacakra.
There are countless examples of the Wheel available online, but the one illustrating today’s issue is one I used when teaching Buddhism. If you’re interested in more detailed information, see Buddhanet. Sources for today’s Stop include Cush, Denise. Buddhism. London: Hodder, 1993.
Karma being the idea that we are rewarded/punished in accordance to our own actions and behaviour. What comes around, goes around.
Also known as the Links of Dependent Origination.
Dostoyevsky is a forthcoming Bus Stop, but in the meantime: Dostoyevsky (Britannica).
Some -very- interesting stuff to digest here. I don't know much about Buddhism or the thought behind it, but they do have some interesting takes. A very well-done article, Bryan.
Anytime you can put Blood, Sweat, and Tears and Journey on the same playlist is a win in my book. Both are great songs.
As usual, the "thought" is spot on.
Thanks again for the read.
I always enjoy and am impressed by what you’re doing Bryan ... but I want to ask you about one point today. You write at the end of the first section: “For the preliterate, the information contained in this picture would have been mind-blowing.” It’s the “for the preliterate” part that sits crossways with me, for it supposes that literacy brought a better understanding of these deep issues. Do you suppose that’s true? What is it you mean by this bit?