The Essence of Dharma Art

Dharma Art, as taught by Chögyam Trungpa, views art not merely as self-expression but as a reflection of the artist's inner state and mindfulness. Arawana Hayashi, herself a student of Trungpa, integrated this philosophy into the course, emphasizing the importance of present moment awareness. The course offered a series of mindfulness-based exercises that explored perception, creativity, composition, and collaboration.

How is Social Presencing Theater connected to Dharma Art?

Social Presencing Theater (SPT), created by Arawana Hayashi, is a way to bring about positive social change through art. It is considered part of Dharma Art, connecting contemplative practices with social transformation. Chögyam Trungpa's work deeply informed hers.  

In the 1970s, Trungpa developed a series of courses called Dharma Art, which he described as "the activity of nonaggression". He placed a strong emphasis on incorporating both meditation and art into daily life.  Arawana went on to develop Social Presencing Theater from a suggestion Trungpa made about dance as a practice for applying meditative awareness to movement.  

SPT therefore is rooted in Trungpa's teachings, which state that true art reflects the artist's inner state and awareness, not just their expression. Both Dharma Art and SPT emphasize mindfulness, embodied learning, and expressing one's inherent goodness through art.

Meditation and Connection: The "Heaven, Earth, and Human" Exercise

A central exercise of the course was the "Heaven, Earth, and Human" exercise. Using simple means – a vertical line representing heaven, a horizontal line for earth, and a dot symbolizing a human being – participants explored the relationship between these elements. This exercise reflects the core principles of Dharma Art, which encourages embracing the ephemeral nature of life and creating space for one's creativity to unfold.

Participant Christa describes her experience with the meditation, where participants, with eyes slightly open, observed their surroundings and their bodies: "There was nothing to do, nothing to judge. I began to feel connected to everything. The leaves on the trees outside seemed related to the flowers inside, and I realized that these flowers, though brought in to brighten our space, were still part of the natural world". This state of open attention allowed them to feel deeply connected to themselves, each other, and nature. By simply observing without judgment, participants could begin to see the interconnectedness of all things.

Sin-Wei, coming from a family with a background in Eastern practices, found a deep resonance with the slowness and mindfulness of Dharma Art. She realized that the art of pausing and sensing lies within everyone and can be expressed through intuition. Her experience highlights the concept of "Ma" – the emptiness or space between things – which is central to Dharma Art.

The Power of the Five Buddha Qualities

As the course progressed, participants were introduced to the four Buddha qualities: Vajra, Ratna, Padma, and Karma. Each quality represents a specific form of energy, encompassing both positive and challenging aspects. These qualities were used to explore approaches to artmaking and gain a deeper understanding of one's creative processes.

1. Vajra: stands for clarity, sharpness, and precision, like a diamond or a lightning bolt. It cuts through confusion and brings clear, decisive energy.

2. Ratna: embodies abundance, richness, and generosity, often associated with the earth and wealth.

3. Padma: symbolizes love, compassion, and openness. Padma is soft, flowing, and playful, like water or a lotus flower.

4. Karma: relates to action, efficiency, and accomplishment, and carries a focused and energetic force.

Chögyam Trungpa describes the fifth Buddha quality as "All-accomplishing Wisdom", which he puts into the center. This quality represents the ability to act skillfully and effectively, accomplishing all meaningful activities without obstruction. It is associated with the fulfillment of actions and fearlessness in the face of challenges. In this state, wisdom manifests in actions that are beneficial and compassionate, achieving results that serve the well-being of others. It is also linked to the element of air or space, symbolizing freedom of movement and the capacity to act in an open and unimpeded way.

Arawana emphasized the importance of balancing these energies, pointing out that there is too much Karma energy in the world. This emphasis on balance reflects the principles of non-aggression advocated in Dharma Art teachings. Working with the four Buddha qualities allowed participants to develop a deeper understanding of the concept of balance in their own lives and the world around them.

The Magic of Shared Creation

The buddha qualities were then used to collaboratively create artwork on the theme of "Heaven, Earth, and Human Being," accompanied by haikus that captured the essence of each quality. The use of color and gesture in their artwork allowed participants to deeply embody the qualities of Vajra, Ratna, Padma, and Karma. Combining movement, color, and poetry enabled participants to capture the essence of each Buddha quality uniquely and powerfully.

Preparation:

• Introduction of the Buddha Qualities: Arawana introduced the four Buddha qualities: Vajra, Ratna, Padma, and Karma. Each quality embodies a certain form of energy with positive and challenging aspects. Vajra stands for clarity and precision, Ratna for abundance and generosity, Padma for love and compassion, and Karma for action and efficiency. 

• Creation of Natural Brushes: The participants were divided into groups of three and were asked to create brushes from natural materials that would capture the energy of each Buddha quality. For example, for Vajra, a brush was made from stiff grasses with sharp edges to represent its clear, precise nature. For Ratna, symbolizing abundance, a bouquet of colorful spring flowers was tied to a large stick as the brush handle.

Carrying Out the Exercise:

• Posture and Gesture: Before painting began, each group assumed a posture that embodied the energy of the respective Buddha quality. They agreed on a common gesture to symbolize the respective quality and to feel it physically.

• Painting "Heaven, Earth and Human": Each group received a large sheet of paper and was to paint on the theme of "Heaven, Earth and Human". They started with Vajra and blue paint. The first participant took the Vajra brush, dipped it in the paint, and painted the sky. The second participant added the earth, and the third completed the picture with the human. This process was repeated for each Buddha quality with the corresponding color (Ratna: yellow, Padma: red, Karma: dark green) and the matching brush.

• Composing a Haiku: After completing each painting, the group jointly composed a haiku that captured the essence of the respective Buddha quality.

• Joint Reflection: Finally, the pictures and haikus were gathered and viewed together.

Use of the Natural Brushes

The use of the self-made natural brushes played an important role in the exercise. Through the haptic experience and the conscious choice of materials, the participants were able to better grasp the energy of the respective Buddha quality and let it flow into their artwork. The different textures and shapes of the brushes influenced the application of paint and thus contributed to a deeper connection with the qualities.

Through the shared exercises and artistic expression, a strong sense of connection emerged among participants. The shared experiences demonstrate how Dharma Art brings people together and creates space for profound encounters. 

Participant Katharina describes the creative process: "The entire DHARMA ART course was a meditation – colorful like a bouquet of flowers. We collected twigs and bundles of grass from nature and dipped them with sweeping movements into bright colors. This is how expressive, aesthetic works of art were created. The colors embody a powerful naturalness. Nature and aesthetics are expressively united. Everything draws its strength from movement. It was about trusting intuition". The use of natural materials allowed participants to connect with the energy of each quality on a tactile and intuitive level.

Conclusion and Resonance

The essence of the Dharma Art course can be described as a mixture of mindfulness, joy, connection and inspiration.

• Mindfulness and presence: The focus on meditation and cultivating mindfulness created an atmosphere of calm and pause. Participants reported a slowing down of everyday life and the experience of the “Ma”, the space between two moments. This presence in the moment enabled participants to focus on their senses and their bodies and to become more aware of the beauty in everyday life.

• Joy and playfulness: Working with colors, natural materials and artistic expressions brought a playful and creative energy to the space. Participants described the experience as “as colorful as a bouquet of flowers” and emphasized the joy of experimenting and discovering their own creativity. The exercises with the Buddha qualities, especially the Padma quality, which embodies love and compassion, fostered an atmosphere of openness and playful interaction.

• Connectedness and authenticity: The course created a space in which the participants, despite their differences, felt connected on a deep level. The shared experience of mindfulness, creativity and reflection strengthened the feeling of togetherness. The exercises also promoted self-awareness and encouraged the participants to perceive and express their own needs and emotions. This authenticity of expression and mutual appreciation contributed to an atmosphere of trust.

• Inspiration and transformation: The encounter with the teachings of Dharma Art and the intensive exploration of their own creative resources had an inspiring and transformative effect on the participants. They describe the experience as enriching and lasting. The exercises helped them to adopt new perspectives, better understand their own energy patterns and integrate more mindfulness and calmness into their everyday lives.