Why is the idea of Dharma symbolized by the wheel?

by Miran Rijavec

Question by Tom on "Dharma":

I understand the idea of Dharma itself as one's righteous duty in reference to Hinduism. Also I understand that in Buddhism it refers to the ultimate truth or reality. I am wondering what following the idea of the wheel applied to and how it applies. Thank you.

Best Answer:

Answer by British Shorthair
1) The eight spokes symbolise the eightfold path. 2) The Buddha set the wheel rolling with his first sermon - like getting something moving 3) The spokes are the same length, indicating that balance in the eightfold path is necessary for progress to be made. The wheel symbol post-dates the Buddha, and was probably an aid to understanding in pre-literate societies. Dhamma has a very complicated meaning. Capitalised, it means "absolute truth", but also "what the Buddha taught", in the sense of the specific doctrine. Dhammas in the plural, however, are any specific phenomena, mental or physical, that can be identified as arising and passing away.

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