Powerpoint Presentation on Mudras-Short Web Version

Powerpoint Presentation on Mudras-Downloadable Long Version

Lesson Plan: Mudra Inspired Collages

Grade Level: 9-12

Objectives: Students will be able to....

*Describe how Buddhist sculptures are used in Buddhist societies. ( NYVAS 3abcd, 4a)
*Identify eight commonly used mudras and their symbolic meanings. (NYVAS 3bcd, 4a)
*Describe, analyze, interpret and judge how artists have depicted mudras and created a sense of unity and harmony in Buddhist sculpture. (NYVAS 3bcd, 4a)
*While looking at their own hands and one another's hands, students will create contour line drawings of at least three different personally symbolic mudras and incorporate these mudras into a collage while giving consideration to repetition, harmony, and unity as well as using color symbolically. (NYVAS 1bcd, 2a)
*Compare and contrast the use of repetition, harmony, and unity and symbolism within their own hand mudra drawings/collages with the sculptural mudras. (NYVAS, 1d, 3abcd, 4ac)

Materials:
White, Cream, Tan and Brown Paper
Large white paper-9''x17 ''
Various collage papers
Watercolors
Brushes
Water
Glue
Scissors

Instructional Resources:
Book: The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art by John C. Huntington and Dina Bangdel
Book: Early Himalayan Art by Amy Heller
Book: Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet by Marylin M. Rhie and Robert A.F. Thuman
Book: The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer
Teacher's Guide: The Art of Buddhism: A Teacher's Guide published by the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Website: Guide to Mudras in Japanese Buddhist Statues
Website: Buddhist Art and Architecture: Hand Mudras
Website: Understanding the Hands: Mudra
Website: Himalayan Art Resources
Website: Explanation of Mudras-This website is quite useful.

Vocabulary: (These definitions are taken from the wikipedia page on mudras and the book, The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art by John C. Huntington and Dina Bangdel

-Abhaya Mudra: This gesture represents fearlessness and protection. This is the "have no fear" gesture. In this gesture the figure has a raised right hand and lowered left hand which is facing palm forward. This gesture also represents peace and benevolence.
-Bhumisparshaa Mudra: This is the calling the earth to witness mudra. The right hand is draped over the right leg and the palm is facing the leg and the left hand is facing palm up and is positioned at waist level. This gesture refers to Siddhartha's enlightenment. When he became enlightened, Siddhartha called the Earth Goddess by placing the right hand to ground. This mudra sometimes represents Buddha'a power over the god Mara.
-Dharmachakra Mudra: This mudra relates to the first sermon that Buddha preached after his moment of Enlightenment in the Deer Park in Sarnath. This mudra depicts the turning of the wheel of Dharma. In turning the wheel of Dharma, Buddha teaches people about the process of gaining enlightenment. In this mudra, the two hands are close together in front of the figure's chest in Vitarka with the right palm forward and the left palm facing upward. The left hand sometimes faces the chest.
-Dhyana Mudra: This is the gesture of meditation. This mudra also represents a person's focus on the Good Law and the sangha. The two hands are placed on the lap. The right hand is on top of the left with palms facing upward in the form of a triangle. This triangle symbolizes the three jewels-the Triratna-the spiritual fire.
-Varada Mudra: This gesture depicts sincerity, compassion, giving, charity, welcome, and offering. The left arm is usually bent with the palm facing upward in which the fingers are often bent. The varada mudra is usually made with the left hand and is often depicted with the right hand in the Abhaya Mudra.
-Vajra Mudra: This is the gesture of knowledge. It is made making a fist with the right hand, index finger extending upward, and the left hand is also making a fist and enclosing the index.
-Vitarka Mudra: This mudra is the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teachings. In this gesture the index finger and thumb are touching one another. While the tips of the thumb and the index are joined together, the other fingers are straight.
-Jñana mudra: This gesture is made by touching the tips of the thumb and the index finger together forming a circle. The hand is held with the palm facing inward toward the heart.
-Karana mudra: This mudra symbolizes the expulsion of demons and removes obstables such as sickness and negative thoughts.
It is made by raising the index and the little finger, and folding the other fingers.
-Bodhisattvas: Divine beings who have already attained enlightenment, but are not going to parinirvana until all other beings have entered nirvana.
-Avalokiteshvara:The bodhisattva of compassion. Avalokiteshvara embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara.
-Vajrapani: a bodhissatva who is representative of Buddha’s power. He is the protector and guide of the Buddha.
-Dakini:“She who goes through the air.” Dakinis help Buddhists to overcome obstacles.
-Sita Tara:White Tara. She represents purity and compassion and is the female emanation of Avalokiteshvara.
-Green Tara:a female Buddha who represents success in enlightened activity and work. Amitabha- the red Buddha of the western direction. He is the spiritual father of Avalokiteshvara.

Motivation:
*Students will read the introduction on Buddhism from The Art of Buddhism: A Teacher's Guide published by the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
*Students will watch Professor Todd Lewis' powerpoint on Buddhism.
*Students will watch the powerpoint on mudra gestures.
*Students will work with a partner and select a work which contains a mudra of their choice from the Himalayan Art Resources website.
*Students will use the description, interpretation, analysis, judgment worksheet to explore one of these works.

Procedure:
*Students will pick three mudras which relate to attributes of their own personality or close friends' or family members' attributes. *Students will be asked to explain their rationale for their choices.
* Using their own hands or a partner's hands, student will create three contour line drawings of three different mudras on their choice of white, cream, or brown paper.
*When the student has completed the contour line drawings, she will cut the drawings out using scissors.
*Students will then begin the collage project. Using images and colors, students will accentutate the ideas which are expressed in their mudras drawings. For example, if the student chose the varada mudra, students will look for colors and images which relate to sincerity, compassion, giving, charity, welcome, and offering. Students can use watercolors, found imagery, and collage papers for this portion of the project. Through repetition of line, color, and shape, students will create a sense of harmony and unity in their collages.
*Students will then compare and contrast their use of repetition, unity, and harmony and symbolism in their mudra collages with the use of these elements and principles in the Buddhist sculptures.

Evaluation: Are students able to.......

*Describe how Buddhist sculptures are used in Buddhist societies?
*Identify eight commonly used mudras and their symbolic meanings?
*Create a collage which depicts at least three different symbolic mudras, color which has been used symbolically, and a sense of harmony and unity created through repetition?
*Compare and contrast the use of symbolism, repetition, harmony, and unity within their own and one another's hand mudra drawings/collages with the sculptural mudras?