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The Five Elements practices from the Bön lineage of Tibetan Buddhism are spiritual practices that help to remove physical, mental, and energetic blocks. The practices invoke, balance, and harmonize each of the five elements through the use of sacred seed syllables, mudras (hand movements), mantras (sacred chants), physical postures, breath work and visualizations. These rich and ancient practices can help to remove physical, mental and energetic blocks and restore balance and integrity in one’s life. The practitioner is guided to connect to his/her own inner wisdom in order to achieve one’s full potential and be able to maintain a relaxed and awakened state of mind. When practiced regularly, these practices help one to attain a healthier lifestyle and to improve one’s physical, mental and emotional health. Invoking space clears a cluttered mind and creates spaciousness and recognition of the pure space of being; invoking air transforms pride to peacefulness and helps to support increased flexibility and improved communication; invoking fire transforms greed and desire to generosity and supports increased creativity; invoking water transforms jealousy to openness and supports a peaceful presence; invoking earth transforms ignorance to wisdom and supports a grounding, abiding presence.
A YANG RAM MANG KHANG DRUM DU
A Simple Way to Practice with the Five Elements
Start each practice session by invoking refuge. Allow the presence to fill you with warmth and support. Then, gently arise bodhichitta, the wish for the benefit of all beings. Feel that deep intention in your heart, like a flame that burns with compassion and wisdom, illuminating all sentient beings with love and peace. Then do the elemental practices below. When you finish your practice session, dedicate the merit.
In the empty essence, Bönku, the Body of Reality.
In the luminous nature, Dzogku, the Perfection Body.
In the non-duality of manifesting capacity and appearances, Tülku, the Emanation
In the expanse of self-awareness, I go for refuge.
This pure immeasurable realm of appearance and existence.
Is primordially equal with Kuntu Zangpo, the pervasive expanse.
I generate the supreme mind of the great primordial liberation.
May I liberate infinite sentient beings.
Practice for All Elements
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the elemental dakini standing in front of us and making the appropriate mudra as an offering to the elemental dakini. The luminous colored light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the elemental dakini. When you feel you are the elemental dakini, then focus on your specific elemental organ area. In your organ is a small elemental dakini (or a colored sphere). Then chant the seed syllable three times. At that time visualize that from the heart small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the element and return in the left nostril back to the heart and organ. Then visualize your heart is full of pure luminous colored light like a pure crystal.
Practices for Each Specific Element
Space Element
Mantra: AH
Color: White
Mudra: Space Mudra
Organ: Heart
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the white space dakini standing in front of us and making the space mudra as an offering to the white space dakini. The luminous white light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the white space dakini. When you feel you are the white space dakini, then focus on your heart area. In your heart is a small white space dakini (or a white sphere). Then chant the seed syllable “A” three times. At that time visualize that from the heart small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the space and return in the left nostril back to the heart. Then visualize your heart is full of pure luminous white light like a pure crystal.
Wind Element
Mantra: YAM
Color: Green
Mudra: Wheel Mudra
Organ: Lungs
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the green wind dakini standing in front of us and making the wheel mudra as an offering to the green wind dakini. The luminous green light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the green wind dakini. When you feel you are the green wind dakini, then focus on your lung area. In your lung is a small green wind dakini (or a green sphere). Then chant the seed syllable “YAM” three times. At that time visualize that from the lungs small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the wind and return in the left nostril back to the heart and lungs. Then visualize your lungs are full of pure luminous green light like a pure crystal.
Fire Element
Mantra: RAM
Color: Red
Mudra: Fire Mudra
Organ: Liver
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the red fire dakini standing in front of us and making the fire mudra as an offering to the red fire dakini. The luminous red light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the red fire dakini. When you feel you are the red fire dakini, then focus on your lung area. In your liver is a small red fire dakini (or a red sphere). Then chant the seed syllable “RAM” three times. At that time visualize that from the heart small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the fire and return in the left nostril back to the heart and liver. Then visualize your heart is full of pure luminous red light like a pure crystal. At the same time visualize through the power of the fire burning, all the negativities are burned up and become pure wisdom.
Water Element
Mantra: MANG
Color: Blue
Mudra: Wave Mudra
Organ: Kidneys
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the blue water dakini standing in front of us and making the wave mudra as an offering to the blue water dakini. The luminous blue light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the blue water dakini. When you feel you are the blue water dakini, then focus on your kidney area. In your kidneys are a small blue water dakini (or a blue sphere). Then chant the seed syllable “MANG” three times. At that time visualize that from the heart small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the water and return in the left nostril back to the heart and kidneys making you healthy. Then visualize your heart is full of pure luminous blue light like a pure crystal.
Earth Element
Mantra: KHANG
Color: Yellow
Mudra: Jewel Mudra
Organ: Spleen
Sit comfortably in the five-fold posture. Begin by visualizing the yellow earth dakini standing in front of us and making the jewel mudra as an offering to the yellow earth dakini. The luminous yellow light of the dakini radiates out from her and touches your heart. Slowly, slowly, you become the yellow earth dakini. When you feel you are the yellow earth dakini, then focus on your spleen area. In your spleen is a small yellow earth dakini (or a yellow sphere). Then chant the seed syllable “KHANG” three times. At that time visualize that from the heart small dakinis come out the right nostril and journey out everywhere gathering the essence of the earth and return in the left nostril back to the heart and spleen. Then visualize your heart is full of pure luminous yellow light like a pure crystal.
This perfect virtue done through my three doors,
In order for all sentient beings to attain unsurpassable enlightenment,
Is dedicated within the great blissful space free from the three spheres.
May all be equal in the primordial state.
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