Bhavacakra

This is a painting of the bhavacakra, a visual aid meant to depict the nature of existence as cyclical. Dating back to at least the 8th century CE, it was often painted on the outer walls of Buddhist Monasteries so that students could refer to it. This is one of the earlier and more abstract attempts of design being used to help people make sense of the world around them on a fundamental level.

The bhavachakra is painted on the outside walls of nearly every Tibetan Buddhist temple in Tibet and India, to instruct non-monastic audience about the Buddhist teachings.