Lord Yama holding the Wheel of Life with the twelve links of dependent origination around the rim; living beings in the six realms of existence in the middle; and the three poisons of ignorance, hatred, and greed that keep us transmigrating around the wheel in the center as represented by a pig, snake, and dove. Note that there is a Buddha in every realm to help beings escape that level of existence. The Wheel of Life shows the consequences of karma. This graphic was given by the Buddha to his friend, King Bimbisara to explain samsara to another king.
Maha-Nidana Sutta |
Twelve Links of Dependent Origination |
Yama & Mara |