We all ask ourselves from time to time what our life is actually made of. Whether we are looking for the meaning of life or for balance in our current situation, this question can come up either way. Does the term “wheel of life” mean anything to you? It comes from ancient Buddhist philosophy, but there is also a modern adaptation created by Western culture. In today’s article, we introduce the basics of both interpretations of the wheel of life and how each one helps us find balance in our lives.
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What is the wheel of life?
The wheel of life is a concept found in both Eastern and Western philosophy. However, the two philosophies interpret it differently, so it is important to understand how they differ. What both agree on is that the wheel of life represents balance in life and serves as a tool that helps us achieve this balance.
The wheel of life in Hinduism and Buddhism
The wheel of life is a central concept in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, also known as the Bhavacakra. It is the Buddha’s vision of how the universe works. The wheel of life is a circle enclosed by three rings, each made up of several sections. It is held by Yama, the figure who represents death and impermanence in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy. No emotions, situations or states in the wheel are permanent. The Buddha’s teaching says that if we cling to certain thoughts and ways of behaving, we will never reach enlightenment and step out of this cycle.
The wheel begins with an inner circle containing three animals: a pig, a snake and a rooster. These animals represent ignorance, hatred and attachment, the human behaviours that stop us from achieving positive karma and freeing ourselves from the cycle. Karma is an action that leads us to the result we long for. This action is usually linked to one of the three behaviours that keep us from breaking free of the cycle. However, if we manage to overcome these negative emotions, we move up to a higher realm that brings us closer to enlightenment.
The second ring of the wheel contains six realms, and in each one we face different challenges that depend on our gradual progress and the deeds we performed in previous lives. These six realms are:
- Hell beings,
- Hungry ghosts,
- Animals,
- Human beings,
- Demigods,
- Gods.
The last ring contains karma, which decides our next life, death or rebirth. In the Buddhist tradition, this phenomenon is also called samsara.
During their life, a person experiences both good and bad events that drive them in their pursuit of happiness. If, in this pursuit, their actions give way to ignorance and hatred towards others or attachment to positive feelings, they gain bad karma that will follow them into their next life. They will bear the consequences of their karma until they learn from them, reach enlightenment and manage to break free of this cycle.
The wheel of life in the Western tradition
While Eastern philosophy sees the wheel of life as a cycle shaped by our karma from previous lives, Western philosophy focuses more on our current life situation. Sometimes we reach a point where one area of our life demands too much attention and energy. Whether it is work or a relationship crisis, if life’s complications stop us from focusing on other parts of our life, things slip out of our control and become unbalanced. This is exactly where the wheel of life can help us find balance again.
In this case, the wheel of life works as a mind map of our own life. The concept was first created by the motivational author Paul J. Meyer. It is a circle divided into several sections that represent the most important areas of our life and how much importance we give them. The sections are individual and different for each of us, which makes this concept highly subjective. If you want to use this version of the wheel of life to find your own balance, here is how:
1. Identify the most important areas of your life
To start, it is important to decide which areas of your life matter most to you. You can begin by thinking about the roles you play in your personal and working life, for example daughter, sister, mother, or manager, colleague, friend. Also remember the areas that matter to you personally, whether they are hobbies, education, financial freedom or family life.
2. Write them into the sections of the wheel
Once you have identified the most important parts of your life, divide the diagram into sections and write the relevant area into each one.
3. Rate each area of your wheel
Rate each section according to how much time you actually give it in your life. You could try a points system, for example: give 10 points to the area you spend most of your time on and 0 points to the one you neglect. Write your ratings into the sections of the diagram.
4. Think about your ideal life balance
Think about how to adjust your life so that it is balanced. Balance does not mean that every area must always have the same number of points. Quite the opposite, there are times when one area of our life needs more attention than others. Still, remember that you sometimes need to make time for areas that are not a priority for you at the moment.
💡 Tip: If you are interested not only in finding balance in life but also in finding the meaning of life, we highly recommend our article on the Japanese concept of ikigai.
