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Dharmacakra

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The dharmacakra Sanskrit: ; Pli: dhammacakka; Burmese: ([dmse t]); Chinese: ; pinyin: fln; Standard Tibetan: (chos kyi 'khor lo); lit. "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Life") is asymbol that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to enlightenment, since the early period ofIndian Buddhism.[1] A similar symbol is also in use in Jainism.[citation needed] It is one of the Ashtamangalasymbols.[citation needed]

HistoryThe dharmacakra is one of the oldest known Buddhist symbols found in Indian art, appearing with the first survivingpost-Harappan Indian iconography in the time of the Buddhist king Aoka.[2] It has been used by Buddhist nations asa symbol ever since. In its simplest form, the Dharmachakra is recognized globally as a symbol for Buddhism.[3] TheAshoka Chakra with 24 spokes, appears on the Lion Capital of Sarnath, the official Emblem of India and isrepresented at the center of the Flag of India.

Symbolism

A simplified version of the dharmacakra

In Buddhism, according to the Pali Canon (Vinayapitaka, Khandhaka,Mahavagga, and Dhammacakkappavattanasutta), the number of spokesof the dharmacakra represent various meanings:

Eight spokes representing the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya magga). Eight laws relating to the vicissitude of life or a reminder to stay

neutral in the face of these eight laws (Attha Loka Dhamma).[4]

12 spokes representing the twelve laws of dependent origination(Paticcasamuppda) or the twelve permutations of the four nobletruths.[5]

24 spokes representing the twelve laws of dependent origination andthe twelve laws of dependent termination (paticcasamuppda).

31 spokes representing 31 realms of existence (11 realms of desire,16 realms of form and four realms of formlessness).

In Buddhism, the parts of the dharmacakra also represent: Its overall shape is that of a circle (cakra), representing the perfection of the dharma teaching

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The hub stands for discipline, which is the essential core of meditation practice The rim, which holds the spokes, refers to mindfulness or samdhi which holds everything together Each spoke represents a portion of the Noble Eightfold Path including

Right beliefs Right aspirations Right speech Right conduct Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right meditational attainment

The corresponding mudr, or symbolic hand gesture, is known as the dharmacakra mudr.The dharmacakra is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.According to Hindu religion, Puranas mentioned that only 24 Rishis wielded the whole power of the Gayatri Mantra.These 24 rishi in Himalayas are represented through the 24 letters of Gayatri Mantra. The all the 24 spokes ofDharmachakra are representation of all these 24 rishi of Himalayas in which Vishvamitra is first and Yajnavalkya islast who governs the religion (Dharma).24 Spokes of Dharmachakra according Hindu religion:1. Love2. Courage3. Patience4. Peacefulness5. Magnanimity6. Goodness7. Faithfulness8. Gentleness9. Selflessness10. Self-Control11. Self Sacrifice12. Truthfulness13. Righteousness14. Justice15. Mercy16. Gracefulness17. Humility18. Empathy19. Sympathy20.Spiritual Knowledge21. Moral Values22. Spiritual Wisdom23. The Fear of God

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24. Faith or Belief or HopeThe dharma wheel can refer to the dissemination of the dharma teaching from country to country. In this sense thedharma wheel began rolling in India, carried on to Central Asia, and then arrived in South East Asia and East Asia.

Multiple turnings of the Wheel

Gankyil

Mahayana schools classify Buddhist teachings in turns of a sequentialscheme of development. These phases are called "turnings" of thedharmacakra (Sanskrit: dharmacakra-pravartana).

All Buddhists agree that the original turning of the wheel occurredwhen the Buddha taught the five ascetics who became his firstdisciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath. In memory of this, theDharmacakra is sometimes represented with a deer on each side.

In Theravda Buddhism, this was the only "turning of the wheel", andlater developments of the Buddhist doctrine which do not appear in thePali Canon or the Agamas are not accepted as teachings of thehistorical Buddha.

Other schools of Buddhism, such as the Mahyna and Vajraynadistinguish later "turnings". Specific accounts of them vary. In one, thefirst turning of the dharmacakra is Gautama Buddha's original teaching, in particular the Four Noble Truths whichdescribes the mechanics of attachment, desire, suffering, and liberation via the Eightfold Path; the second turning isthe teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom sutra, a foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism; and the third is theteaching of the Mahavairocana Sutra, a foundational text of Tantric Buddhism.

In another scheme, the second turning of the dharmacakra is the Abhidharma, the third is the Mahyna Perfection ofWisdom Sutras, and the fourth includes both the Yogacara sutras and Tathgatagarbha sutras.

Other uses In the Unicode computer standard, the Dharmacakra is called the "Wheel of Dharma" and found in the

eight-spoked form. It is represented as U+2638 (). The coat of arms of Mongolia includes a dharmacakra together with some other Buddhist attributes such as the

lotus, cintamani, blue khata and Soyombo. Following the suggestion of Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Buddhist dharmacakra was used on the new Flag of India.[6]

The national flag of the former Kingdom of Sikkim in the Himalayas featured a version of the Dharmacakra. Thai people also use a yellow flag with a red Dharmacakra as their Buddhist flag. The Dharmacakra is also the U.S. Armed Forces military chaplain insignia for Buddhist chaplains. In Jainism, the Dharmacakra is worshipped as a symbol of the dharma.[citation needed]

Other "cakras" appear in other Indian traditions, e.g. Vishnu's Sudaranacakra, which is, however, a wheel-shapedweapon and not a representation of a teaching.

In non-buddhist cultural contexts, an eight-spoked Dharmacakra resembles a traditional ship's wheel. As anautical emblem, this image is a common sailor tattoo.

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The National Flag of India hasthe Ashoka Chakra at its centerrepresenting all Indian religions

The flag of the former Kingdomof Sikkim featured a version of

the Dharmacakra

The Dharmacakra flag, symbol ofBuddhism in Thailand

Thammachak(Dharmacakra) Seal,seal of Thammasat

University inThailand, consistingof a Constitution onPhan or container

with the 12-spokedDharmacakra behind

Dharmacakra for theU.S. Armed Forcesmilitary chaplain

Dharmacakra in Falun GongDharmacakra is translated as Falun in Chinese, and is therefore the most important thing in Falun Gong practice. In"The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa", Li Hongzhi explains, "The rotating Law Wheel has the same natureas the universe and as its miniature. The Buddhist Law Wheel, the Daoist yin-yang, and everything in theTen-Directional World are reflected in the Law Wheel. The Law Wheel provides salvation to the cultivator when itrotates inward (clockwise), since it absorbs a great amount of energy from the universe and transforms it. The LawWheel provides salvation to others when rotating outward (counter-clockwise), for it releases energy that can saveany being and rectify any abnormal condition; people near the cultivator benefit."

Notes[1] Albert Grnwedel, Agnes C. Gibson, James Burgess,Buddhist art in India. Published by Bernard Quaritch, 1901, page 67: "The wheel

(dharmachakra), as already mentioned, was adopted by Buddha's disciples as the symbol of his doctrine ..."[2] Albert Grnwedel, Agnes C. Gibson, James Burgess, Buddhist art in India. Published by Bernard Quaritch, 1901, page 67: "The wheel

(dharmachakra), as already mentioned, was adopted by Buddha's disciples as the symbol of his doctrine, and combined with other symbolsatrident placed above it, etc.stands for him on the sculptures of the Asoka period."

[3] Hermann Goetz, The art of India: five thousand years of Indian art. Published by Crown, 1964, page 52: "dharmachakra, symbol of theBuddhist faith".

[4] http:/ / www. thebuddhism. net/ 2013/ 05/ 09/ the-eight-laws-relating-to-the-vicissitude-of-life/[5] http:/ / www. accesstoinsight. org/ tipitaka/ sn/ sn56/ sn56. 011. than. html#fnt-3[6] Christopher S. Queen, Sallie B. King, Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist liberation movements in Asia. SUNY Press, 1996, page 27, (http:/ /

books. google. com/ books?id=6ZsTgY1lNNsC& pg=PA27& dq=dharmachakra+ buddhist+ symbol& lr=#PPA27,M1): "Ambedkar, as amember of Nehru's first cabinet, proposed the use of the Buddhist dharmachakra or "wheel of the law" on the new flag of India and theAshokan lion-capital on the national currency."

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Further reading Dorothy C. Donath (1971). Buddhism for the West: Theravda, Mahyna and Vajrayna; a comprehensive

review of Buddhist history, philosophy, and teachings from the time of the Buddha to the present day. JulianPress. ISBN0-07-017533-0.

Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsDharmacakra Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=579912924 Contributors: 1cr malkin, A Ramachandran, Abrarzawed, AjaxSmack, Aleksd, Aristitleism, Atulsnischal, B9hummingbird hovering, Benevolent56, Blainster, Blanchardb, BrokenSphere, Brookie, CalicoCatLover, Carlossuarez46, ChrisGualtieri, Closedmouth, Cminard, Cobaltcigs, CommonsDelinker,Computer97, CsDix, DTRY, Dakinijones, Dbiel, Deeptrivia, DocWatson42, Drmies, Ekajati, EraserMMX, Eu.stefan, Flashywordz, Gantuya eng, Geni, Getaway, GoingBatty, Gurch,HannibalLecter5, Hanuman Das, Helix84, Hetalialover123, Hintha, Hybernator, Imc, J04n, John Hill, Johnbod, Jujordan, KellenK, Kintetsubuffalo, Kungming2, Kwamikagami, Langdell,Liebeskind, LilHelpa, Lockesdonkey, Lugia2453, MZMcBride, MaGioZal, Magioladitis, Maleabroad, Melchoir, Mitsube, Mzilikazi1939, NaiPiak, Ninly, Nnemo, OlEnglish, Paulbunyon,Pawyilee, Pharaoh of the Wizards, Podzemnik, Pqnelson, Rahul RJ Jain, Rajkumar.tambe, Ramurf, RandomCritic, Rjwilmsi, Roncero, Rjagha, Sacca, Saippuakauppias, Shashwat986, Shravak,Sl77sl, Slightsmile, Smaines, SqueakBox, Squids and Chips, The Thing That Should Not Be, Thryduulf, Tibetan Prayer, Tsekey, U304u304, Vanished user 39948282, Vinodh.vinodh, VivekKumar Pandey, Whitebox, Wikiklrsc, Xinstalker, YURiN, Yopi.pma, Zen Mind, Zero sharp, , , 127 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Dharma Wheel.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dharma_Wheel.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors:user:Esteban.barahona, user:ShazzImage:Dharma Wheel.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dharma_Wheel.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors:user:Esteban.barahona, user:ShazzImage:Sam Taeguk.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sam_Taeguk.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: by nagymanImage:Flag of India.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_India.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie, MifterImage:Flag of Sikkim monarchy.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Sikkim_monarchy.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: AnonMoos, David Levy,Gmaxwell, Kintetsubuffalo, Mattes, Nichalp, Roland zh, VIGNERON, Xiengyod, 2 anonymous editsImage:Dharmacakra_flag_(Thailand).svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dharmacakra_flag_(Thailand).svg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors:User:XiengyodFile:Emblem of Thammasat University.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emblem_of_Thammasat_University.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Royal ThaiCabinet PressFile:AFReligion3.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:AFReligion3.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: AnonMoos, BrokenSphere, Iamdavidtheking, 1anonymous edits

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DharmacakraHistorySymbolismMultiple turnings of the WheelOther usesDharmacakra in Falun Gong

Notes Further reading

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