Buddhist Teachings in the Reliefs at the Foot of Borobudur Temple

A closer look reveals that the reliefs at the base of Borobudur Temple are linked to the core of Buddhist teachings. The reliefs adorning the base depict teachings about the causes of human suffering and the consequences of one's actions in the next life. Comparing these reliefs to Buddhist scriptures, or sutras, reveals that the temple reliefs are interconnected to tell a story representing the Mahakarmavibhanga Sutra, or the law of the causes of suffering and the consequences of one's actions.
The 160 panels containing scenes on the relief depict everyday life, the good and bad deeds that result, the consequences of those actions, and heaven and hell. Twenty-three of the panels are excerpts from the Mahakarmavibhanga Sutra. As the word karma suggests, the reliefs depict various human actions and their consequences. Some scenes can be interpreted as symbols of pratitya samutpada, a reference to the Tibetan Bhacavakra mandala.
In this mandala, (1) avidya (indifference) is symbolized by a blind woman, (2) samskara (basic urges) is symbolized by pottery being made by a craftsman, (3) vijnana (consciousness) is depicted by a monkey picking fruit, (4) namarupa (personality) is depicted as a boat on a journey, (5) sadayatana (six sense organs) is a house with many windows, (6) sparsa (relationship) is depicted by a kiss, (7) vedana (feeling) is depicted by a man with an arrow in his eye, (8) trsna (desire) is depicted by a drinking scene, (9) upadana (charity) is depicted by the act of picking fruit from a tree, (10) bhava (process of occurrence) is depicted by a pregnant woman, (11) jati (birth) is depicted by a birth scene, and (12) jaramaranam (old age and death) is depicted by a corpse being carried to the burial ground.
The meaning of the entire series of reliefs shows that the concept of karma here is placed in the context of pratitya samutpada which consists of 12 links that describe the causes of human suffering.
Today, the series of reliefs has been covered and forms the base of the temple. Thus, the base of Borobudur Temple embodies the essence of Buddhist teachings, emphasizing the first two Truths: life is suffering, and this suffering has a cause.