What does it mean to be a conscious leader who contributes meaningfully to the world? What posture would you have? What would you stand for? How would you organize your effort and activity to best meet the demands of your friends, family and community? In the Buddha's teachings we often find a reference to the five family Buddha's that depict the qualities and characteristics of conscious living. The five Buddha families provide a framework for understanding how to integrate our practice with our daily life so that we can remain genuinely grounded in our values, but also intimately participate with others around us.
Buddha. Lead by example.
The buddha element represents a grounded, present, truthful expression of the self. This element focuses on providing resources, making connections, revealing implications and seeing clearly. They are committed to the activities of learning, contemplating, writing and teachings others. They teach how to work with fear and hesitation in order to move beyond our habitual manifestation or the status quo. They use the power of metaphor and stories to teach others and to share their integrated vision. They are aware of their own constructs but not stuck on them.
The primary emotional work of the buddha element is focused on confusion, uncertainty and fear. While these may never go away, training in the buddha element teaches us to dance with confusion, uncertainty and fear to create opportunities for wisdom or purpose. The form or shape of our life becomes one in which we guide, teach and lead others out of confusion and habitual patterns into wisdom and clarity.
The vajra element emphasizes identifying and solving problems. They use logic, reasoning and critical thinking to figure out how to use and deal with conflict. Curiosity drives the vajra element to create, shape boundaries, contextualize or model innovative solutions. The vajra element is focused on bringing about fulfillment or actions that manifest the intended result.
The primary emotional work of the vajra element is focused on aversion and anger. As our sense of self hardens we become more self-righteous, more opinionated and critical of others. We become very authoritarian and assertive. These mental states naturally encounter conflict and problems in our world and relationships which provoke anger and aggression. As we learn to work with the vajra element, we can transmute the energy and power of aversion and anger into clear thinking and penetrating insight.
Ratna. I am a contribution.
The ratna element recognizes that we all co-create the world and how we show up matters. We can share gifts with the world, gifts of compassion, kindness and generosity to impact others. The ratna element is committed to demonstrating the abundance of inner wealth in a world of scarcity and selfish concern. Being values-oriented they are more focused on the long tail of generosity than the short finite game of results.
The primary emotional work of the ratna element is focused on egotism and your status. Our actions are often concerned with the eight worldly concerns and how we will be perceived by others. Acts of generosity are often complicated by status roles and personal favors. As we learn to work with the ratna element we overcome the narrow confines of the ego and recognize the significance of their contribution.
Padma. Caring for others.
The padma element recognizes that all human endeavors are co-created and that we share responsibility in shaping that global reality. They work to inspire, motivate and connect others. They embody an intimate presence in all aspects- their body, mind, energy, and emotions; to develop deeply personal relationships and extend their care and attention to their community. Their passion, joy and care engender connection, belonging and trust.
The primary emotional work of the padma element is focused on selfish desire and attachment. All of us have strong desires and passions and our fixation on these leads to a very narrow view and limited understanding. We become fixated on our version of what's right, what we think is the best way, what we want. As we learn to work with the padma element we overcome the tendency to focus on our own qualities and characteristics and direct our attention to nurturing and caring for others.
Karma. Help others.
The karma element is committed to service, effort, availability, initiative and accountability. They express a willingness to step forward to benefit others. They are intentional about becoming more and more available to others and work to be in service to the processes that are unfolding around them. They joyously remain open and present amidst hardship and problems.
The primary emotional work of the karma element is focused on greed and your own needs. Much of the work we do in this life is focused on gaining status, power or control over others. We dominate the situation so nobody else can outshine us. Elevating ourselves and our abilities becomes the main focus, rather than being meaningfully present or helping others. As we learn to work with the karma element we overcome this insecurity and paranoia, discovering a sense of natural ease and fulfillment. No longer focusing on our own position or qualifications, we can be present and available to meet others where they are at, on their own terms.
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