James Baquet jamesbaquet@gmail.com A LOVELY but enigmatic symbol sits atop the peak of many temple roofs: a large eight-spoked wheel is at the center with two deer looking up at it with rapt attention. What does it symbolize? In the earliest days of Buddhism, it was considered inappropriate to present the Buddha in human form. Various symbols developed that avoided literal representation: an umbrella, an empty throne, a riderless horse, footprints — and a wheel with eight spokes. This is called the Wheel of Dharma and stands for the Eight-fold Path the Buddha taught as a means of enlightenment. The first sermon he gave was called The Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, and it happened like this: While seeking enlightenment, the Buddha-to-be allied himself in the forest with five ascetics, other seekers like himself. At one point, he abandoned the severe asceticism they practiced and adopted the middle way between the luxury of the palace he had left and the austerities he had shared with the five. For this they abandoned him as “too soft,” and he went off on his own — and found the enlightenment he sought while seated alone under the Bodhi tree. Making his way to Sarnath, he met his five former companions. At first they suspected that he had left the path. But when they saw the radiance in his face, they were compelled to listen as he shared with them what he had learned, and they became his first five disciples. All of this took place at Deer Park in Sarnath, and the deer listened in — as they do on temple roofs to this day. |