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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