DESCRIPTION
The Dharmachakra symbol is represented as a chariot wheel (Sanskrit cakram) with eight or more spokes. It is one of the oldest known Buddhist symbols found in Indian art, appearing with the first surviving post-Harappan Indian iconography in the time of the Buddhist king Aśoka.
The Dharmacakra has been used by all Buddhist nations as a symbol ever since.
Its overall shape is that of a circle (cakra), representing the perfection of the dharma teaching:
- 1. The hub stands for discipline, which is the essential core of meditation practice
- 2. The rim, which holds the spokes, refers to mindfulness or samādhi which holds everything together
- 3. Each spoke represents the Noble Eightfold Path including