The Buddha's eight fold path to self-realization is symbolised by the composite Dharmachakra. At the centre is a mass of ignorance and evil. Eight spokes lead away from it showing the ways to deal with the wheel of life.

BUDDHISM
DHARMACHAKRA : The Eight Rules Of Living
The Dharmachakra or the Wheel of Law, is the most important symbol of Buddhism. Dharma, according to the Buddha, is the law which brings about the welfare of the greatest number of people when practiced faithfully. The wheel is symbolic of good and noble behaviour in each person. In a larger sense, it is the wheel of eternity and cosmic reality, which underlies all change.

The wheel has eight spokes representing the eight-fold path to salvation which the Buddha taught. The hub shows the three causes of suffering - illwill, ignorance and lust. The eight virtues expounded by the spokes are : Right view of life, right resolution to do good deeds; right speech; right conduct; right means of livelihood; right effort to achieve goals; right observation and consciousness and right concentration.

 

JAINISM
CHAKRA, SWASTIKA, HALF MOON, THREE DOTS:

Jains believe inahimsa or non-violence as the first axiom of life. To be non violent is not enough however. It is necessary to have an abhaya attitude to living meaning that no creature should fear another.

Knowledge, Rectitude, Character, Salvation
The Jains who follow the teachings of their 24 Tirthankaras, consider the chakra and the swastika holy. They are often used in the rituals of worship. During the 2500^th death anniversary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, a more comprehensive symbol was designed for ritualistic worship. This comprises a half moon, three dots, the swastika and the palm of a hand with the figure of chakra inset. The chakra, or the wheel of dharma, in Jainism, has 24 spokes each representing a specific virtue, ahimsa being the most prominent. The auspicious swastika is used for meditation. The three dots symbolise knowledge, dharma and character (gyan, darshan and charitra). The moon is siddhashila or godhood, the perfect state and the dot inside is Siddha Bhagawan or God. The significance of the complete symbol is that all people can find bliss by following the path of dharma.