Dharma

Buddha used the symbol of the wheel to express the first day of his illumination, when he discovered the truth. Buddha referred to the Wheel of Life which he first saw and understood, and then set in motion the wheel of teaching, Dharma as it was called.

To understand this symbology more fully, it is necessary to analyze another factor in the cosmology of Buddha and this is the notion of Nirvana. This basic character of the Samsara (the world) is that it consists of things which appear and disappear. The basic character of Nirvana is that it does not appear and does not disappear. In the Samsara there is continuous endless movement in circles, but in Nirvana there is no movement for it does not exist in time or space. For this reason, it was symbolized in the Wheel of Life by the central point of the wheel around which all things turn but which itself does not move. Everything else within the circumference of the wheel endlessly turns and turns, but the central point remains stationary. always the same.

The main warning Buddha gave was not to base happiness on ephemeral things, which appear and disappear, as do the things of the Samsara, but to realize that happiness was located on the eternal, immovable central point of the Wheel of Life, the Nirvana, which never appears and never disappears but always is. When a woman/man starts to leave the circumference of the Wheel and to walk along the Noble Eightfold Path (eight spokes) toward the center, s/he will be less and less subject to the blind forces of Tanha (thirst, passions) in the Samsara; and s/he will gradually get nearer and nearer to her/his goal at the central point of the turning Wheel, the point which is no longer in the continual circle of ephemeral things, the circle of thirst and phenomena and suffering. (from p. 42 & 44 of "The Living Buddha"  by Edmond Bordeauz Szekely)

 

The Ten Parts of the Wheel

 

The Self begins to walk the outer circumference of the wheel and, one at a time, encounters the eight spokes of the wheel. No one can walk the path for another, only the Self walks the path and begins to understand how to connect with the hub through each spoke of the Wheel. As "the Way of the Higher Truth" of the Eightfold Path is revealed to the Seeker of Truth.  The Higher Self emerges within the Self and walks the circumference of the wheel with Right Understanding.

With Right Understanding the eight spokes of the wheel are held together in perfect balance. The wheel turns steady and true. The Path of the outer circumference of the Wheel, the Eight Spokes of the Wheel and The Higher Self come into Right Relationship with Our One Creator and all beings and The Higher Self enters the Heart and Hub of the Wheel. The Ten Parts of the Wheel, (The Outer Rim- The Eight Spokes- the Hub) reveal the Tenfold Nature of Our Being.

 

The Tenfold Nature of Our Being

 

Each of the Ten Parts of the Wheel has a relationship with one of the Ten Parts of our Total Subtle Anatomy.

1. Acting Body- Gross Body or Physical Body (Seven Systems- Five Senses)
2. Thinking Body- Subtle Body or Auric Body [Seven Auras around the Body- Five Pranas (auras) within the Body]
3. The Feeling Body- Causal Body or Chakra Body [Seven Chakras on the Spine and Five Chakras on the Front (Hara)]
4. Atmic Body- Karmic Body- Patterns of Divine Nature as well as Karmic Patterns from incarnation to incarnation
5. The Mind
6. The Soul
7. The Spirit
8. The Will
9. The Higher Self
10. The Sacred Heart