Page 175 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

is Wheel of Life is an unique and superb representation of

Samsara, the world of Birth and Death, in it all kinds of living

beings exist and are classified into six types. Samsara is held

between the jaws of the King of Demons, Mara, who attempts

to rule the mind of mankind and holding them in a state of

delusion.

Within the spokes of the Wheel the Six Realms or Karmic

Destinations, which is known as Cyclic Existence, can be seen.

Cyclic existence is beginingless which means that each being

has lived countless lifetimes and as such there is no being who

has not been his mother or father at one existence or another.

Buddhism therefore teaches that every being is in fact a kind

mother being who has, in the past, shown great love, kindness

and protection to each one of us and that we should in turn be

ready to repay them with similar acts of kindliness. is is a very

important aspect of Buddhist practice that will help one to de-

velop compassion and the mind of enlightenment.

he ix ealms of xistence

e Realm of the Devas or Gods is the happiest state as those

who dwell there enjoy continual pleasure and sensual delight,

mitigated only by the fact that they too must eventually die and

pass on to the other states once their karmic forces die out. Birth

into this realm is mainly due to one having lived virtuously and

generously towards others.

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