What is the Wheel of Life mandala?
The mandala of the Wheel maps five narrative codes arranged in concentric circles. In the hub, three animal icons signify the core of human frailty; surrounding that, a circle, half white and half black, with human bodies falling and rising, signifies the outcome of good and bad actions;(12) and encompassing that, the six ‘realms of existence’ signify habitual psychological modes. In the outer rim, scenes of mundane life signify a universal sequence of human ‘errors’. The wheel is embraced by Mara/Death. Beyond the Wheel, the figure of one pointing at the moon, signifies the possibility of overcoming the conditions of the Wheel. The positive imagery of the codes aims to encourage the ‘good life’ while the negative imagery aims to question those behaviours that have historically given rise to significant suffering. For the political analyst, whether state or non-state, the text may be read both as analytical tool and historical narrative. What is the political symbolism of the Wheel? Th
