Sipa Khorlo

  Sipa khorlo literally means the wheel of existence. It's called as Bhavachakra in sanskrit. It is believed that sipa khorlo is one of the oldest iconography in Buddhist art. The wheel of life represents the existence cycle of birth, life and death. Scripture were painted on walls near the main door of monasteries and temples. The scripture consists of four important layers. The outer layer is divided into twelve parts which indicate the twelve karmic link, the third layers contain six realms, the second layer is consists of white path and black path and the inner and small layer contains three poison.

In the layer of twelve karmic link, it includes 1.Marigpa/ignorance(Avidya in skt), 2.Dudhjay/ Perception(Samkara), 3.Namshey/ (vinan) Realization, 4.Mizug/name and forms (Nammarapa), 5.Kemchey/sense(Ayatana), 6.Regpa/contact(sparsh), 7.Tshorwa/Sensation(vedana), 8.Segpa/Attachment(Trishna), 9.Lenpa/Grasping(Adana), 10.Seeba/Becoming(Bhava), 11.kewa/Birth(Jati), 12.Gay-she/Ages and death(Jaramarana).

1. Marigpa/ignorance(Avidya). It's means that all our mis conception starts with the ignorance. It was represented by a blind man. 

2.Dudhjay/ Perception(Samkara). It's means that the perception will be depend on our own skill and experience, aesthetic sense, and even mood at the time of creation. It was represented by a potter man.

3.Namshey/Realization(vinan) . The results in relying on the fleeting mind with consciousness. Our restlessness in an inherent part of our nature.

4.Mizug/name and forms (Nammarapa). Mind follows something that has a name and forms. Individual is made up of body and mind.

5.Kemchey/sense(Ayatana). It's represents the name and form of people, more attention to the empty sense. The senses are the potals whereby we gain our impression of the world.

6.Regpa/contact(sparsh). It means that the contact of the sense organs with their objects, wherein lies their ultimate fulfillment.

7.Tshorwa/Sensation(vedana). It means feelings are either painful or pleasant, pleasure and pain are experienced on a number of different levels ranging from direct physical sensations.

8.Segpa/Attachment(Trishna). It depicts that nobody wants pain everyone is attached to seeking joy. Woman offering a drink to a man intended to bring to mind intensity of desire.

9.Lenpa/Grasping(Adana). It shows attachment leads to desire or Greed. The fruit is an ancient symbol for earthly desire.

10.Seeba/Becoming(Bhava). Gets pregnant with Greed. Bringing to existence is a man and woman performing a sexual act, initiating a new life.

11.kewa/Birth(Jati). Give birth to a child of greed. The new life  is the condition in dependence upon which arises death and decay.

12.Gay-she/Ages and death(Jaramarana). It represents all birth must age and die. Whatever is born is born to experience the attacks of sickness, old age and finally death.

The third layer was divided into six realms. 1. Lha/God(Deva), 2.Lhamin/Demi-god(Asura), 3.Mi/Human(Manusya), 4.Duedro/Animal(Tiryagyoni), 5.Yeda/Hungry Ghost(Preta) and 6.Nyewa/Hell(Naraka).

 1. Lha/God(Deva). The realm of God is considered as higher realm because thier lives filled with pleasure and they have a very comfortable life than other realms. God suffered of foreseeing the death.

2.Lhamin/Demi-god(Asura). Demi-gods have good and happy like gods but they always spend their time on creating war with god and fighting within themselves. While fighting with god, they always lose as gods are more powerful. They suffer from constant fight and jealousy and from being killed.

3.Mi/Human(Manusya). Humans realm is also a experience realm since the human got the chance to suffer and experience everything like, Birth, death, life, ignorance,Realization, Attachments, Grasping, sense, etc. Human realm is considered to be suitable for practicing dharma because they are not completely distracted by pleasure.

4.Duedro/Animal(Tiryagyoni). This is the one of the lower realm. They suffer from being killed by other for food and some are feared of being exploited and slaughtered by humans.  

5.Yeda/Hungry Ghost(Preta). Lower realm, Hungry ghost suffer from extreme hunger and thirst. They got large bellies with thin and long neck.

 6.Nyewa/Hell(Naraka). Worst realm or lower realm. They have to bear unimaginable suffering like hot and cold for entire life in hell realm.

The second layer was divided into two part that is white path at right side and black path at left side.

1. White- bliss

2. Black- evil

And the last inner layer represents the three poisons that is pig, roster and snake.

Pig- Ignorance 

Roster- Greed

Snake- Anger