4/19/2023 0 Comments Karma wheel of life![]() Sound familiar? In many ways, our own world is filled with short-sighted citizens and leaders that have mismanaged their resources. So when they die, and yes, gods can die, they risk a truly terrible series of rebirths- Hell, Hungry Ghost, tapeworm, foot fungus etc.… for all of the time they wasted. The gods are isolated from real life and can struggle to understand the suffering of others. ![]() But this sweet life is also extremely dangerous to the spirit-the gods have little incentive to help others or enlighten themselves, because they live in ultimate comfort and luxury. The gods live in beautiful palaces and have no cares. The Heavenly Realm is composed of gods and demigods- the good life, right? Eating ambrosia, eternal youth, every wish fulfilled. The Heavenly Realm: Gods are not all they are cracked up to be. Animals have little power to influence the larger world around them and are often the first to feel the effects of human development and environmental destruction. Also, since invertebrates make up about 95% percent of all animal life on Earth, there’s a much higher chance of being reborn as a spineless worm than as a soaring eagle.īeing reborn as an animal is especially frightening in a world dominated by humans. But the day-to-day life of a wild animal-however majestic-involves a fair amount of eat-or-be-eaten and there is little time and inclination for seeking spiritual enlightenment. The Animal Realm may seem like a tempting rebirth, especially if you have ever had the fantasy of soaring like an eagle or frolicking in the waves like a dolphin. Just as depictions of these realms on the Wheel of Existence warn Buddhists of the consequences of immoral actions, they can serve as a reminder to all of us of the destruction that global climate change can bring about. These realms seem fantastical in their awfulness, but consider them reflections of real-world problems such as droughts and food shortages. People reborn into the Realm of Hungry Ghosts have malformed bodies with huge, ravenous bellies, forever hungry and thirsty, but with necks too narrow to accept food or water. Existing in this realm is easy to imagine if you’ve heard the Greek story of Tantalus. The Realm of Hungry Ghosts is a different kind of unpleasantness. ![]() The Hell Realm, as its name suggests, is similar to the Judeo-Christian ideas of a frightening place filled with fire, red-hot pokers, and monsters eating your face. The Hell Realm and the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: You don’t want to be too hot or too hungry.Īccording to certain Buddhist traditions, the two worst realms to be reborn into are the aptly named Hell Realm, and the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. ![]() Its image demonstrates the cyclical process of life, death and rebirth, and how the actions you take in this lifetime affect your next life-an age-old “infographic” of Karma and other Buddhist concepts.īeyond its traditional spiritual teachings, the Wheel of Existence can also provide lessons for everyday citizens facing a changing world. One of the most important teaching tools of Tibetan Buddhism is the Wheel of Existence. ![]()
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