Draw a symbol, or write a statement to show what you believe life is really like.

How could a wheel symbolise the following:• Everything changes, nothing lasts• All actions have consequences• Death is inevitable• Birth follows death

• To describe the wheel of rebirth• To explain Buddhist teachings using the

Wheel of Rebirth• To evaluate what sort of people fit into

each part of the wheel

Explain how the Buddhist symbol of a wheel is a good symbol for the Buddhist beliefs above. **Buddhists do not believe in soul but believe in re-incarnation. How is that possible?

Wheel of Rebirth

“I am here because my parents had

lust, and I had karma”.

Buddhists believe that suffering is endless. This is because your actions (your karma) have good or bad consequences, and this produces your life force. Your karma binds you into the cycle of rebirth, and makes you get re-born.

You are born with the karma of your previous life. Even a happy life has some negative karma - dukkha.

Buddha taught that the only way to escape suffering and the cycle of rebirth was to have zero karma. You can do this by becoming a Buddha.

1. Why do Buddhists believe we get reborn? In your answer, explain the concept of karma.

2. How do you break out of the cycle of rebirth? *Write out the quote

and explain what it is suggesting.

Stick in your wheel of rebirth in the middle of your page.

1. Draw an arrow + call out, 2. label with the title of your

wheel part. 3. Summarise your wheel part.

The Realm of Hungry Ghosts

**Why is it desirable to break free of karma & rebirth ?

Each realm is under the protection of a “Boddhisattva” (a buddha figure) who brings help to those in each realm.

In your groups, work out how you are going to present this

section.

Decide what your hearers need to understand.

And what they need to write down !

As you listen to the 10

presentations, make notes for that section on

your wheel.

12 links

Human realm

Animal realm

Hellish realm

Hungry Ghosts realm

Asuras realm

Heavenly realm

The Monster of Impermanence

Central hub

Light & Dark

Psychological TypesThe wheel of rebirth can be

understood as representing psychological descriptions of different types of people...

• What sort of people are...

Humans ?

Like Animals ?

Hellish beings ?

Hungry Ghosts ?

Like the Asuras ?

Heavenly?

Who are you on the wheel of rebirth ?

Yama, the Monster of ImpermanenceYama, is the 3 eyes monster of impermanence. He wears a headdress of skulls, and a leopard skin loincloth, and clutches the wheel, attempting to devour it. In spite of his terrifying appearance, Yama is not evil. Although we may be frightened of death, it is not evil; just inevitable, as rebirth is inevitable. The beings on the wheel cannot escape impermanence. The only way to escape from the endless round of rebirth, is to pursue enlightenment. In the sky behind the wheel there is the Buddha on the right, representing hope for escape from the wheel of rebirth. A stream of beings rise from the Human Realms toward the temple, which represents Nirvana.The Heavenly RealmThis beautiful realm is inhabited by happy god-like creatures, free of the 3 fires and enjoying the fruits of previous good actions. However, in this happy state, beings risk forgetting that they still need to strive for Enlightenment. For this reason, the Bodhisattva in this realm plays the lute of impermanence, reminding them not to be complacent, as this state too is impermanent. The Realm of the AsurasHere, envious warlike beings engage in constant conflict, trying to capture the wish-fulfilling tree of the gods. The Asuras are the ambitious, the ruthless and the selfish. They have more power and happiness than humans, but they try to use their superior strength to fulfil their desires, by force if necessary, thinking that this will make them happy. The Boddhisattva in this realm brings them the wisdom needed to see that this will not bring them peace. He advises them to overcome their enmity and see what is really worth striving for – enlightenment. The Realm of Hungry GhostsThis realm is inhabited by emaciated beings with swollen stomachs. Nothing can satisfy their neurotic desire for more. Everything they eat and drink turns to fire. Here the Boddhisattva brings true nourishment of Buddhist teaching which will really satisfy them and show them the way to peace. Hungry Ghosts are associated with addictions, compulsions and obsessions. People who have everything but always want more may be Hungry Ghosts. The Hell Realm -Fire and IceAs a result of the mental state of hatred, beings in the hell realm suffer various torments, such as freezing or being boiled, mutilated or tortured. Fiery hell beings are angry and abusive, driving away anyone who would befriend or love them. Icy Hell Beings shove others away with their unfeeling coldness. The Bodhisattva brings them nectar to provide relief. This food also represents nirvana, or Enlightenment, which Buddhists see as the ultimate cure for suffering. The Animal RealmThis realm is inhabited by beings whose experience is dominated by concern for their basic physical needs – food, sex and sleep. Animal Beings are regular and predictable. They cling to what is familiar and are fearful, or uninterested, in anything unfamiliar. The Animal Realm is marked by ignorance. Animal Beings are un-curious. They go through life seeking comfort and avoiding discomfort. They have no sense of humour.The Boddhisatva brings them education and culture. The Human Realm -The Hope of LiberationExperience in this realm is a mixture of pleasure and pain. As the realm of the happy, healthy human being, it is the ideal state to find enlightenment. Here the teaching of the Buddha is openly available, yet only a few seek it. The rest become caught up in striving, consuming and acquiring, and miss the opportunity. Here the Boddhisattva points out that the way forward is wholehearted leading of the spiritual life. The CentreAt the centre of the Wheel of Life are the forces that keep it turning – the three fires, or poisons, of greed, anger and ignorance.The cock represents greed/ craving, the pig represents ignorance, and the snake represents hatred. The cock, a snake and pig chase round and round, biting each others tails. ignorance about what produces real happiness makes people chase after experiences and possessions. Not getting what they want, people respond with hatred. hatred clouds their perceptions and fuels further ignorance and craving. That is why the wheel keeps turning. The Light and Dark circles around the centreIn the light semicircle, beings are shown progressing upwards through increasingly positive states of mind. In the dark semicircle, beings tumble downwards, led by demons representing their negative states of mind. This illustrates karma: that actions have consequences. Good actions have good consequences and lead to good states of mind. Bad ones leads to bad consequences and bad states of mind.