The dharma wheel, an interesting Buddhist concept

The wheel of dharma or transformation wheel It is a Buddhist symbol that charts the path to enlightenment. It corresponds to an element that shows what the order of things is like naturally.without external forces intervening.

The original name of the dharma wheel is dharmachakra and in principle it was only used by Buddhism. Over time, it was also adopted by Hinduism and Jainism. Followers of Buddhist philosophy also consider it as the wheel of doctrine, because it summarizes a good part of Buddha’s teachings.

The wheel of dharma is believed to have been present since Gautama Buddha’s first speech, in the Deer Park. Buddha presented this symbol to answer the disciples’ question of how to achieve enlightenment. It is also said that it was the Buddha himself who started it.

the dharma

The word dharma has different meanings, depending on the philosophy or belief in which it is used. In the case of Buddhism, the dharma it is the moral law. The term comes from Sanskrit and etymologically means something like conserve, maintain or preserve. The antonym of dharma is not karma, but “adharma”, that is, without moral law.

In Buddhism, the moral law is the cosmic law of order. It is often identified as a synonym for “protection.”. The doctrine of Buddha is believed to be itself a philosophy that aims to protect people from suffering. In that sense, dharma becomes the practice that leads to peace and enlightenment.

For Buddhists everyone must take the path to train in the dharma. This is the way to achieve spiritual peace and with it happiness, which lies in wisdom and compassion. On this path the wheel of dharma plays an important role, which indicates the path to follow.

The elements of the dharma wheel

In the center of the dharma wheel are four concentric circles. These represent the so-called “four noble truths” of Buddhism. They make up the core of the doctrine and are therefore in the center of the graph.

The four noble truths are the following:

dukka’s truth. He points out that discomfort is inherent to existence. This does not mean that happiness cannot be achieved.The truth about the cause of dukka. The cause of suffering is attachment, which is born of desire. In turn, the desire not to exist leads to self-destruction.The truth about the extinction of dukka. Through constant training, the extinction of attachment is achieved, which implies the extinction of the three great poisons of existence: greed, hatred, and ignorance.The truth of the path. What leads to the cessation of suffering is following eight guidelines. These guidelines are represented by the eight pillars that are found on the edge of the dharma wheel.

Additional items

As noted, The points on the wheel of dharma correspond to the “Noble Eightfold Path.”, which, in turn, talks about eight ways to achieve peace and enlightenment. Each one is a path in itself, but it is related and depends, in one way or another, on the others.

The Noble Eightfold Path includes:

Correct vision and understanding. It means understanding that suffering exists, that it comes from desire and that the cessation of desire dilutes suffering.Correct thought or determination. Nothing is constant, intentions must be in good faith and non-violence towards other organisms must be applied.speak correct. Refrain from lying, defaming and speaking disrespectfully or frivolously.act right. Refrain from taking life, from taking what is not given and from harmful sensual behaviors.Correct livelihood. Earn a living the right way.correct effort. Prevent the unhealthy, destroy the unhealthy, produce the healthy and cultivate the healthy.Correct care. Contemplation of the body, the environment, the mind and the thoughts.Correct concentration. Distance, tranquility, faded ecstasy, abandonment of pleasure and pain.

Buddhists point out that everything described corresponds to the first turning of the wheel of dharma.. The subsequent turns correspond to new teachings. However, the first turn is the fundamental one and the one that condenses the essence of the doctrine.

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