Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra, Wheel of Law)

The dharma chakra (literally, ‘wheel of Law’) Buddhist emblem resembling a wagon wheel, with eight spokes, each representing one of the eight tenets of Buddhist belief. The circle symbolizes the completeness of the Dharma, the spokes represent the eightfold path leading to enlightenment: Right faith, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right endeavor, right mindfulness, and right meditation. It is drawn from an Indian symbol, but instead of representing Samsara, or endless rebirth, it symbolizes overcoming obstacles. The Dharma wheel is one of the eight Ashtamangala, or auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.  Sometimes, the wheel is flanked by deer, which refer to the deer park in which the Buddha is said to have given his first sermon.