The 5 Buddha Families and the Wisdom of the Season According to Tibetan Buddhism, all phenomena, humans included, are made of the 5 types of elemental energy, space, water, earth, fire, and air. Each of these energies is associated with one of the 5 Buddha Families. The Buddha of each of the Buddha families displays a special kind of enlightened wisdom. As humans, we are heading towards wisdom. However, we can end up displaying neurotic attitudes and behaviors if the wisdom energy gets blocked or distorted. Discovering which elemental energy predominates can dispel some of the confusion about why people feel, act, and make the decisions they do. Irini Rockwell, in her book, The Five Wisdom Energies identifies the hallmarks of each of the Buddha families: spaciousness, clarity, richness, passion, and activity. Spaciousness The Buddha Family associated with element of space radiates a white energy, spacious and peaceful. When people manifest the wisdom aspect of Buddha energy, they are receptive, accommodating, easygoing and content with just being. When blocked, this energy can create the feeling of stuckness. These people can appear to be dull, lazy, stubborn and in denial. Clarity The Vajra Family associated with the water element reflects a blue energy like a crystal-clear mirror. When people manifest the wisdom aspect of Vajra, they are clear-minded with an intellectual brilliance, sharpness and precision. They maintain perspective and are full of integrity. Members of the Vajra family have the potential for self-righteousness that can harden into cold or hot anger. These people can be perceived as overly analytical, critical, opinionated, authoritarian, and perfectionistic. Richness The Ratna Family associated with the earth element exudes a golden yellow energy that encompasses and enriches everything. When people manifest the wisdom aspect of Ratna, they are expansive, resourceful, hospitable, and appreciative. But Ratna can also turn into greedy territoriality and puffed-up pride. When people manifest the neurotic quality of Ratna, they lose touch with their natural equanimity, and become arrogant, ostentatious, and insecure.
Passion The Padma Family associated with the fire element glows with the vitality of red energy. Padma people can be intuitive, engaging, and charming. They can listen deeply and speak from the heart. Their attraction for beauty can turn into an obsessive desire to obtain the most pleasurable and ideal situations. Padma people have a tendency to ride the emotional roller coaster up to elation and then come crashing down into the depths of despair and depression. Activity The Karma Family associated with the air element emits a green energy, swift and energetic like the wind. People with predominantly karma energy are efficient, effective, practical, and helpful. But Karma people can be restless and speedy. At their worst, they can become power-hungry, competitive, manipulative, controlling, and dominating. Fearing failure, they may become paranoid and jealous. You might start to get a sense of your own fundamental energy and Buddha family and those of some of your family and friends from these brief descriptions. On the path of wisdom, awareness is the first ingredient; then, it s important to be able to allow the energies to express themselves without resisting or manipulating them, even when they are turning up as difficult emotions. Once you know your family proclivities, strengths and weaknesses, you can explore the other elements in your makeup or mandala. Eventually, we want to be familiar with all the elements and spontaneously express their wisdoms. Spending time in nature is a great way to begin, as each season provides access to particular elemental quailities. This season, Fall, is associated with the Earth element. It overflows with the rich display of changing leaves. This time of harvest gives us the opportunity to experience the sweetness and abundance of the earth. Autumn extends an invitation for us to connect with our inner sense of fullness, completion, and deep satisfaction. It s an excellent time to pause and rest in the knowing that nothing is lacking.
In a day-long workshop, we ll be elaborating on the theme of connecting to Earth energy. We ll embody the Wisdom of Equinimity of the Ratna family, through exercises such Buddha Palm Qigong and Shamanic Journeying. Consider joining us for a day this fall, and each season of the year to explore the elemental energies of each Buddha Family and their associated wisdoms! Morganne Ashlie has been a Licensed Acupuncturist and Qigong Instructor for over two decades. She is a Shamanic Journey facilitator and long-term Tibetan Buddhist Practitioner. For more information about Morganne and her work, see www.yourbodybalanced.com