Lesson 4
Mandalas: Circles of Compassion

Objective: Students create an intention and a mandala with symbols
Materials: Paper, pencil, paint, brushes, ink pen

Timeframe:10 days

Handout #1
Colors of the mandala-- 4 quadrants
Yellow- pride turns to appreciation and sameness
Red - attachment turns to discernment
Green - jealousy turns to accomplishment
Blue - anger becomes mirror-like wisdom
White- ignorance becomes wisdom

Handout #2

Names of color symbols:

White - vairocana
Yellow - ratnasambahva
Red - amitabha
Green - amoghasiddhi
Blue - akshobhya

Handout #3

4 gateways , symbolize the 4 directions, enter from east at
the bottom.

Procedure:
Day 1 - Show video Virtual Mandala for concept of 3-D meditation. Create the circle and 4 gateways. Students decide on intention, create symbol
to represent it.
Day 2 - divide remainder of circle into 8 sections
On a separate piece of paper, design 8 symbols : protecting life, helping others, speaking truthfully without hurting others, avoiding hurt through actions, useful work, paying attention to the present, inner calm. Be sure to write the meaning next to the symbol, creating a symbol key
Other symbols can be added according to interests: sports, relationships, music etc.
Day 3 -4 - Draw in designs , repeat as patterns.
Day 5 - paint 4 quadrants according to above color symbols
Day 6 -8 paint in patterns using “jewel tones”
Day 9 - Outline in sharpie pen or pen & ink.
Day 10- Self reflection statements

Alternate: use computer lab : create mandalas in Photoshop or MandalaPainter3

Exhibit art in gallery, community centers, share with elementary school students, post on school website.
Vapa standard: content area 2 Creative Expression
Vapa standard: content area 5 Connections, Relationships,Applications