Mandala of the Five Prajnas

 January's offering is a Five Prajna Mandala using the format of a Celtic knot, combining two symbolic heritages: Celtic knots from Western Mysticism and Five Buddha Mandala symbolism from the Eastern Vajrayana. It is an iPad sketch which I plan to use as inspiration for a painting on canvas once I'm at the end of a current run of commissions for Buddhist Icon paintings.

Reindeer party

 Happy Xmas.

Here's a seasonal offering - this year's festive card

The Five Prajnas

 

Here are the five female Wisdom Buddhas: Locana, Mamaki, Pandaravasini, Aryatara and Akasadhatesvari. This is a companion set to the set of the five Jinnas which you can find scrolling down the posts to December and October 2016.

Coracle, Window, Tree from a set of Bardo images

 

Contemplating the bardo as a liminal space which we enter in the moments after death. There is a coracle waiting to take us onwards to places as yet unknown. And glimpses of a mysterious tree and a warm soft sky which may be the sky at sunrise or sunset. I invite you to find your own narrative prompted by this set of forms and colours. Feel free to post a comment giving your perception and interpretation of my picture.

Mamaki, golden female wisdom Buddha of earth and abundance

 Mamaki is the embodiment of the Wisdom of Equality which sees in all of us the potential for Awakening, and understands the existential situation that we all share.

Here are some experimental renderings of this wisdom deity.  

She sits relaxed and upright in the posture of Royal Ease. She holds the chintamani, the wish fulfilling jewel in her right hand which stretches out in the gesture of giving. (varada mudra).  On the blue lotus by her left shoulder rests a silver vajra bell. 

Two of the images explore her connection with the earth element.

Locana, female Wisdom Buddha

 

Locana is the personification of the Mirror Like Wisdom of Akshobya, the blue Buddha of the East. Her name means "she with the eye" or "she who is illuminated by the Dharma". The eye as in The Eye of Wisdom"

I am currently exploring the five Prajnas, the five female wisdom Buddhas and making images of them, both digitally and with pigment on surfaces.  Locana is the first Wisdom Buddha in the series. Her element is water.

Pandaravasini

 Pandaravasini is a female wisdom Buddha, consort of Amitabha. She personifies discriminating wisdom which sees the uniqueness of all phenomenon.

Coracle

 

Vajrasattva Painting in Process

Reviewing the progress photos of the Vajrasattva I painted last year this image spoke to me. We see  the image emerging and taking form. From here I simplified and refined the background, adding drops of nectar.  I placed a saffron cloth around his loins and the 5 jewels of the Jinnas in his Bodhisattva crown.  I find significance and meaning in this version. It speaks to me of the mystery of emergence and transience,  Although lost as a physical object the image lives on.

 

Bonfire detail from recent commission

This is a detail from a recent commission of a painting of Prajnaparamita. It is a gift for someone and was commissioned by her friends. This part of the image symbolises the group of friends who funded the painting My intention was to communicate feelings of warmth, connection and friendship along with something a little mysterious.

 

Hebe's chalice

 The myth tells that the goddess Hebe lost her chalice of youth and an eagle fought to recover the cup and returned it to her. Wherever the bird shed a drop of blood or a feather, up sprang a Rowan tree.

Birch variations through the seasons

Summer into Autumn

Autumn Birches

Summer Birches

Winter Birches