The Vairochana mandala depicts the Five Wisdom Buddhas, who help practitioners transform the five afflictive emotions that cloud our worldview—pride, anger, attachment, envy, and ignorance—into wisdom. Each of the following lessons focuses on deepening our awareness of these difficult feelings and how they show up in our lives.
Delve deeper into the concept of the mandala. Discover its many intricate meanings. Create your own board game as a visual reminder of the inner meaning of the mandala.
Recognize how pride distorts our sense of self and the surrounding world. Create your own optical illusion illustrating this contorted view of reality.
When we transcend attachment, we reach a state of inner peace, and we embody love, compassion, and wisdom. Reflect on the positive qualities that you would like to develop. Create your own crown representing your most stellar attributes.
Mindfulness practices such as mindful breathing, mindful looking, and mindful eating can help us to overcome afflictive emotions like envy. Develop your own personal mantra that you can incorporate into your favorite mindfulness practice. Create a handheld prayer wheel containing your mantra.
Develop strategies for overcoming anger. Create your own handheld drum (damaru) as a means of returning to the present moment when you feel an afflictive emotion such as anger.