“In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the pinnacle spiritual experience is described as the union of the feminine, symbolizing wisdom, with the masculine, symbolizing skillful means.”
~ Lama Tsultrim Allione
The mandala is a sacred representation of our world, and of ourselves, and when the two merge into one we begin to see how the outer is a reflection of the inner. This journey into the depths of the mandala of our multidimensional selves awakens our true nature. Yet we need trustworthy guides to take us on this path, as they reveal greater and ever more potent ways to connect to ourselves as energetic and powerful beings.
In this video below, Karla Jackson-Brewer shares how this subtle, day-to-day evolution of ourselves takes place.
Below we offer a brief introduction to the five Buddhas that make up the Buddha Mandala – a “template of wholeness” that we place our psyche into.
Vairocana
Position in the Mandala: Center
Color: White
Seed syllable: OM
Poison/Obstructed Pattern: Ignorance, Delusion, Depression, Spacing Out
Vairocana is seated on a lion throne. He represents consciousness and the transformation of non-recognition into the wisdom of the Dhamadhatu (all-encompassing space).
Akshobhya
Position in the Mandala: East
Color: Blue
Seed syllable: HUNG
Poison/Obstructed Pattern: Anger (Cold And Hot)
Akshobhya is seated on an elephant throne. He represents form and the transformation of anger into mirror-like wisdom.
Ratnasambhava
Position in the Mandala: South
Color: Yellow
Seed syllable: TRAM
Poison/Obstructed Pattern: Pride, Inadequacy
Ratnasambhava is seated on a supreme horse throne. He represents feeling and the transformation of pride into the wisdom of equanimity.
Amitabha
Position in the Mandala: West
Color: Red
Seed syllable HRI
Poison/Obstructed Pattern: Craving, Compulsive Seduction, Lust, Longing, Desire
Amitabha is seated on a peacock throne. He represents perception and the transformation of craving into the wisdom of discernment.
Amogasiddhi
Position in the Mandala: North
Color: Green
Seed syllable: AH
Poison/Obstructed Pattern: Envy, Ambition, Speediness
Amogasiddhi is seated on a kinnara bird throne. He represents volitional action and the transformation of envy into all-accomplishing wisdom.
In this video, spend twenty-minutes with Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer, for a “Guided Journey With A Buddha” (developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione), transforming whatever state of “dis-ease” you are feeling today.
In Lama Tsultrim’s book Wisdom Rising, we learn how working with the mandala develops an enlightened view of ourselves and the world:
“When we understand the mandala and the five buddha families, our world clarifies itself. Our lives take shape instead of being random confusion. Through the mandala we shift our vision and start to see energies with both obstructed patterns and wisdom patterns; all beings are held in that. Not only the people in our lives, but our homes, workplaces, landscapes, body types, foods, interior decor, seasons, times of the day, and so on are all understood within the mandala. And within ourselves, our disturbing emotions are experienced as energies that, when freed from ego’s control and transformed, become the five wisdom energies.”
ABOUT KARLA JACKSON-BREWER
Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer, M.S., Tara Mandala Senior Teacher, has been practicing Chöd for 31 years and has assisted Lama Tsultrim on many Chöd retreats. She has co-taught Chöd since 2013 with Lama Tsultrim and Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton. She has also taught and led Chöd Practices for the NYC Tara Mandala Sangha which she leads. In October 2012, she received the Chöd Empowerment from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje. She leads a monthly BBIPOC meditation practice for Tara Mandala … Read more »
We invite you to enter the Buddha and Yab Yum mandalas, explorations of the full spectrum of our enlightened capacities.
~With Blessings,
Tara Mandala
