Buddha’s teachings, which are called Dharma, are likened to a wheel that moves from nation to country in accordance with altering conditions and people’s karmic inclinations.
The external kinds of presenting Buddhism may alter as it meets various cultures and societies, but its essential credibility is made sure through the extension of an unbroken family tree of realized professionals.
Buddha’s teachings are said to be like a precious wheel since, wherever they spread, the people because location have the chance to manage their minds by putting them into practice.
Turning the Dharma Wheel
After Buddha achieved enlightenment, as a result of demands he rose from meditation and taught the very first Wheel of Dharma. These mentors, that include the Sutra of the 4 Noble Truths and other discourses, are the principal source of the Hinayana, or Lesser Lorry, of Buddhism.
Later, Buddha taught the 2nd and third Wheels of Dharma, which include the Excellence of Wisdom Sutras and the Sutra Discriminating the Objective, respectively. These teachings are the source of the Mahayana, or Great Vehicle, of Buddhism.
In the Hinayana teachings, Buddha explains how to attain freedom from suffering for oneself alone. In the Mahayana teachings he describes how to attain complete enlightenment, or Buddhahood, for the sake of others. Both traditions thrived in Asia, in the beginning in India and after that gradually in other surrounding nations, including Tibet. Now they are also starting to grow in nations throughout the world.
Each year Buddha turning the Wheel of Dharma is commemorated in Kadampa centers all over the world on a wedding called Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day
More info on Buddha’s turning the Wheel of Dharma can be found in Heart of Knowledge and Ocean of Nectar.
Representations of the Dharma Wheel
The Dharma Wheel appears above the door of standard Kadampa Temples between a male and female deer. These represent the stages of the path of Highest Yoga Tantra.
The 8 advantageous indications symbolize in basic how to progress along the Buddhist path. The Dharma Wheel, deer, and top vajra teach you the stages of the course of Highest Yoga Tantra. The male deer represents the awareness of great bliss. The female deer signifies the awareness of vacuum. The Wheel of Dharma represents the union of these two.
Through progressing in this union of terrific bliss and emptiness, finally you will attain the five omniscient wisdoms of a Buddha, which are signified by the top five-pronged vajra.
There is also a big Dharma Wheel in the lantern tower of the Temples consisting of precious bibles, symbolizing the Holy Dharma spreading throughout all worlds.
The Dharma Wheel is also used in Tharpa Publications logo design to signify the pure Dharma of Kadampa Buddhism spreading throughout the world through the works of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
In the center of the Dharma Wheel is the logo design of International Kadampa Buddhism– a radiant sun increasing behind a snow-clad mountain.
This symbolizes the sun of Kadampa Buddhism, which came from behind the Eastern Snow Mountains, now radiating to lots of countries throughout the world through the power of Geshe Kelsang’s deeds.
