FUTURE AND PAST LIVES ACCORDING TO TIBETAN ASTROLOGY AND THE BUDDHIST WHEEL OF LIFE

There is much speculation about how you can find information about past lives in a chart. However, there is a method for looking at this that has been used for many thousands of years in Tibet.

I believe this method has a solid foundation. It is based upon the Buddhist wheel of life. The Buddhist wheel of life gives pictures of the illusions of life on earth. It gives insight in how to overcome these illusions so that moksha becomes possible.

The Buddhist wheel of life is portrayed on tapestries which can be found in many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The most while known tapestry is a tapestry found in a monastery in Sikkim.

In this article you will see the connection between the Buddhist Wheel of Life and the astrological chart. An astrological analysis makes it possible to find out which spiritual path is the most suitable for a person, so that imbalances can disappear.

It also becomes clear what the direction is in which a soul can develop itself.

Tibetan astrology can be divided into 2 parts. One part is based upon Chinese astrology. However, the other part has its roots in Vedic astrology, the astrology of India. Buddha himself came from India. Therefore it is logical that spiritual Tibetan astrology has its roots in Vedic astrology.

SIDEREAL ASTROLOGY

Tibetan astrology is a form of sidereal astrology. Therefore we should use the Vedic chart and not the Western chart. There is a difference of about 22 to 24 degrees between the position of the planets in the Western and in the Vedic chart.

Also we will make use of the so called bhava chakra. This is a Vedic chart, not based upon equal houses, but based upon the house system of Sripati (this has much similarity to the house system that is known in the West as Porphyry, however in Sripati the housecusps are the middle of a house, not the beginning).

NIDANA (THE SOUL)

In Vedic astrology the Sun is the planet that gives information about the soul.

The sidereal sign in which the Sun is located gives information about the reason why a certain soul has incarnated. The Tibetans call this the nidana. The word nidana can be translated into ‘the incarnation impulse’. In many cases this has to do with certain imbalances that should be corrected in this life.

The sidereal sign of the Sun is the major nidana.

There is also a minor nidana which is indicated by the ascendant.

Suppose someone has the Sun in Scorpio, but the ascendant in Gemini. As we shall see in the scheme below the reincarnation impulse will be to learn how to deal with addictions to pleasure (Scorpio), of a changeable nature (Gemini).

The learning process consists of reaching fulfilment by becoming one with the True Self (solution for Scorpio). This should be done in a calm way that implies setting one’s mind at rest (solution for Gemini). In the overview given below the solution for a certain nidana is found at the end of the description of a certain nidana.

There is a relationship between the nature of a nidana and the corresponding astrological sign.

Each nidana has a symbol that expresses a certain state which needs to be overcome by spiritual development. Below you see brief descriptions of the nidanas. The symbols which you see are details out of the Buddhist Wheel of Life.

The Buddhist Wheel of Life is held by the Lord of Death (Yama). He is the frightening figure that holds the Wheel. The Wheel of Life is about the imbalances that are the cause of incarnation. Therefore all the nidanas are inauspicious. Only by attaining a balanced, spiritual, attitude is it possible to reach spiritual liberation. By meditating upon the Wheel of Life it is possible to reach such an attitude.

Liberation is possible by breaking away from the central processes of the major and minor nidana. In many cases this has to do with the release of material desires and concentrating on spiritual values.

Aries: symbol a blind man. Avijja, Not Knowing. This nadina has to do with the unconscious will that goes its own way and on a new start. The blind man is ignorant. The central state is ignorance. Aries is characterised by quick actions that have consequences that are not always overseen. That is why he stumbles. Only enlightenment can give insight in the true state of the Cosmos.

Taurus: symbol: a potter. Sankara, Strength of Mind. When we come into existence the mind develops. The person engages himself with materials and with developing strength of mind. How the pot will look depends upon the potter. At the start of the cycle we are formed by the consequences of old karma. Starting from that point we will shape our future by our deeds. Every thought, every action causes karma and therefore is of consequence to our future.

The central state has to do with creation, creating our future. The spiritual person knows how he is shaping his own karma and is doing things with awareness.

Gemini: symbol: a restless monkey. Vinnanna, consciousness. This nadina has to do with the conscious will, communication, change and restless activity. The monkey engages himself with picking fruit. However, soon another piece of fruit will pull his attention.

The central state is restlessness. Gemini is characterised by going from one project to another without finishing something.

Spiritual growth will give this sign the rest that he needs.

Cancer: symbol, a ship with two persons and a third who paddles and decides where the voyage is going to. Nama-Rupa, Body-mind. The two small persons in the boat symbolise consciousness (Vinnana) and the body. The mind has found a means of transport (the boat, which symbolises the body). The destination is being decided by the True Self who is symbolised by the large person. Water is a symbol of emotions. Cancer is an emotional sign.

The central state is resistance and surrender. By surrender to the True Self the journey will be easier.

Leo: symbol: a house with windows. Salyanta, six senses. A (not visible) person is in a house that has five floors, windows and a door. These symbolise the six senses (eyes, nose, ears, tongues, body and mind). It is through these that we see the world. However, observation through the senses is unreliable. What we observe is decided by the limitations of the senses.

The central state is use of the senses which can lead to incorrect observation. Only meditation will lead us to the true reality.

Virgo: symbol: two figures who are making love. Phassa, contact. The result of the meeting between the six senses (Salyanta) and an object is contact. The lovers embrace eachother in a sensual hug. The try to make one body out of two.

The central state is sensuality. Trying to make one body out of two will never be totally successful. Only spirituality will lead to true oneness.

Libra: symbol: a figure with an arrow in his eye. Vedana, feeling. A man screams in an agonised way because he has an arrow in his eye. The arrow symbolises the large amount of data that are received by the senses because of contacts (Phassa).

The central state is over stimulation of the senses because of outside contacts. This causes feelings and emotions. Only by going inside is it possible to experience rest.

Scorpio: symbol: a woman gives beverage to a man. Tanha, desires. The giving of beverage symbolises the giving of pleasure. The fact that beverage is given symbolises the addictive nature of pleasure. Desires will arise because of the feelings (Vedana) that are caused by contact (Phassa).

The central state is addiction to pleasure. Only by becoming one with the True Self can one reach real fulfilment.

Sagittarius: symbol: a woman that collects fruit in a basket. Upadana, greed. The fruit is the symbol for earthly objects of which we think they will give us satisfaction.

The central state is trying to reach external goals of which we think they will satisfy us. However, true satisfaction is only reached by going inside.

Capricorn: symbol: two people making love in a cabin. Bhava, becoming. Two people are making love which results in a pregnancy. This makes a new start possible.

The central state is the modelling of a new start. This best way to make this new start is to concentrate on spirituality. For most people desire and greet (Tanha and Upadana) will lead to new physical births and continuation of the Wheel of Life. However, it is also possible to make a new start influenced by spirituality which can result in freedom from the Wheel of Life.

Aquarius: symbol: a birth. Jati, birth. After pregnancy (Bhava) birth takes place. However, the new life that comes into existence will be confronted with the limitations of life on earth. A spiritual rebirth will not have to deal with those limitations. Aquarius is an innovative sign. It is best if these innovations are of a spiritual nature.

Pisces: symbol a dead body which is carried away to the grave. Jara-marana, suffering. This nadina has to do with loss and the release of everything material. Everything on earth will eventually come to an end. Every birth (jati) will lead to suffering and dying. Dying will lead to a new birth and a new start of the cycle (Avija).

Freeing oneself from materiality and desires will lead to a spiritual rebirth and liberation out of the Wheel of Life.

LOKA: WHERE THE SOUL IS COMING FROM

In the Buddhist Wheel of Life we see six realms. These are divided into three realms of the upper world and three realms of the under world. The former represent illusions of happiness and the latter illusions of misery. However, all these realms symbolise illusions. Illusions keep us tied up in the Wheel of Life. Therefore all these spheres are inauspicious. Even the more happy realms like the realm of Jupiter are inauspicious. A golden cage is also a cage. Only the ending of illusions and reaching spiritual liberation (moksha) is seen as auspicious.

The highest realm is that of Jupiter. People that come from this realm have in most cases experienced happy past lives. The lives were satisfying and could be regarded as godly. Therefore this is the realm of the gods. Some of these people are here to help others. However, they should watch out for arrogance. It is good to be aware that the realm of Jupiter is still part of the Wheel and therefore a realm of illusions.

At some point the souls that have come out of this sphere will have to go to another realm. This could be for example the realm of Saturn. Unless of course they manage to free themselves from the wheel.

After that one reaches the realms of the Sun and Mars. This is the realm of heroes and competition. People that come out of this sphere like to prove themselves. They have to take care not to end up in power struggles. Coming out of a feeling of lack of self worth they have a tendency to take way possessions and accomplishments of others. It is important for these people to be satisfied with what they are and show respect for their own accomplishments.

Next we reach the realm of Mercury. This is the realm of people. Persons that come out of this realm have many choices, which gives freedom. However, they can be overwhelmed by these choices. Therefore it is important that they focus their attention to something. Human existence offers a balance between pleasure and problems.

Next we come to the realm of the Moon. This is the realm of ghosts and illusions. The creatures you see in the pictures have thin bodies and thirst and hunger that never ends. These people have a tendency not to have enough of anything. They tend to react from a feeling of lacking something. This attitude can be neutralised by contentment.

The realm of hell falls under Saturn. These people have had the most difficult lessons of all. The emotion which keep people caught in the realm of Saturn is hate. Hate can develop as a consequence of deeds about one has the illusion that they have been caused by others (while in fact we create everything that happens in our lives ourselves). This attitude can be neutralised by compassion.

If we wish to know the lokaplanet, that gives information about with which realm the soul is the most familiar we have to make the following analysis:

• The two lights in the chart are the Sun and Moon. We can find out which of these two lights is the strongest in the chart. We can do this by simply looking at the placement in sign, house and the aspects. We can also make use of Shadbala, which is a system that measures the strength of a planet. Most Vedic astrological software programs can calculate Shadbala within a few seconds.
• Next we have to find out in which decanate the strongest of the two lights is found. The easiest method to do this is to look at the drekkana chart, which is one of the harmonic charts used in Vedic astrology. Next we look at the ruler of the sign in which the strongest of the lights in the drekkana chart is placed. That ruler will be the lokaplanet.
• After that we analyse how the lokaplanet is placed in the chart. The general quality of the past lives of the person will be decided by how the lokaplanet is placed. If the lokaplanet is afflicted or weak then the past lives will have been difficult. For example it is possible that a life under the rule of a strong Venus has been more pleasurable than a godly life under the realm of Jupiter, that has ended in being nailed on the cross.

This system simply shows with which realm the soul is the most familiar. It does not give information about the state of development of the soul. Indeed seen from outside the Wheel all realms are equal and they are all inauspicious. The lokaplanet gives information about the attitude which we bring into this life. It does not give information on how far advanced we are in a spiritual sense.

LOKA WHERE THE PERSON IS GOING TO

Of course it is interesting to know what your future loka will be. However, keep in mind that there will only be future lokas if you do not manage to free yourself from the Wheel of Life. Therefore what you analyse here is not bound to happen.

To gain information about the future loka we follow the next method:

• We take the ascendant (for example 5 degrees Taurus).
• Next we look at which decanate falls at exactly 150 degrees from the ascendant. We determine the ruler of that decanate. In this example 150 degrees from 5 degrees Taurus is 5 degrees Libra. The ruler of the first decanate (the first ten degrees) of Libra is Venus (the ruler of the second decanate Saturn, the planet that belong to the airsign Aquarius, and the ruler of the third decanate is Mercury, the planet that belongs to the airsign Gemini). In the course Applied Vedic Astrology the concept of decanates and how to work with it is fully explained.
• Next we determine which decanate is found at exactly 210 degrees from the ascendant. We will determine the ruler of that decanate. In this example if we add 210 degrees to 5 degrees Taurus we arrive at 5 degrees Sagittarius. The ruler of the first decanate of Sagittarius is Jupiter.
• In this example the future loka will be the loka of Jupiter or Venus. We will look at which of these two planets is the stronger in the chart. If this is Jupiter than the person will have more godly experiences in future lives. The quality of these experienced will be influenced by the state of Jupiter in the chart.

Of course it is possible that someone will move to a difficult realm like the realm of Saturn. If you have analysed your chart and has found out that this could happen, maybe this will give you an extra motivation for freeing yourself from the Wheel of Life.

Also apart from freeing yourself from the Wheel of Life it is also possible that by doing good deeds the situation will change. The astrological chart gives the result of our past karmas. What has happened in the past is certain, there is not much we can do to change that. However, we can change our future karma by doing the right thing. Indeed, the Buddhist Wheel of Life shows us what this right thing is.

An astrological analysis using the techniques explained here gives information about what the best attitude is for us given our astrological chart. Therefore astrology helps you to personalise the general information which can be found in the Buddhist Wheel of Life.

CONCLUSION

I hope the information given here has given you some idea of how the Tibetans deal with the matter of birth and rebirth in connection to astrology

Maybe you like to have information about the results of the above techniques applied to your chart. In that case I am very sorry, but I do not give long distance readings. I give face to face consultations only. The reason is that when I give a consultation I like to be able to see the person behind the chart. I also want to make sure that everything I tell is well understood and no misunderstandings arise. In a personal consultation it is much easier to check this than in a long distance consultation.

However, you are free to apply for the Course Applied Vedic Astrology which gives you information about all the techniques described here. After having done this course it is easy to apply the above techniques to your own chart.

LITERATURE REFERENCES

• Astrology and reincarnation by Manly Palmer Hall, Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, USA, 1980.
• Tibetan Astrology by Michael Erwine, article found in Eastern systems for Western Astrologers, Samuel Weiser, 1997.
• The Bhava Chart, birth and rebirth by Eva de Alberich, article found in Hindu Astrology Lessons, editor Richard Houck, Groundswell Press, 1997.

The book: Eastern Systems for Western Astrologers, can be ordered by clicking here , discount 20%, Amazon Price $15.96.

This is a book about astrology from China, India and Tibet. You will find a clear article written by Michael Erwine about Tibetan Astrology in this book.