The Five Elements Practices, Geshe Chaphur Rinpoche

Published on Feb 25, 2015
The Five Elements are an integral part of Tibetan cosmology and essential to understanding the relatedness and interdependence of all things in the universe. e Five Elements (space/ether, earth, water, re, and air) are the essential elements or building blocks for all phenomena, not only in the physical universe but also in our physical and energetic bodies. Each element represents not only an energetic quality, but also takes physical form—and like all forms, each element exists separately but also exists interdependently. Each element needs, supports, and affects the other elements together providing a cohesive whole within an individual being. When the Five Elements are out of balance, illness, negative emotions and disharmony manifest. The Five Elements practices from the Bön lineage of Tibetan Buddhism are spiritual practices that help to remove physical, mental, and energetic blocks. e practices invoke, balance, and harmonize each of the ve elements through the use of sacred seed syllables, mudras (hand movements), mantras (sacred chants), physical postures, breath work and visualizations. When practiced regularly, these practices help one to attain a healthier lifestyle and to improve one’s physical, mental and emotional health.

Invoking space clears a cluttered mind and creates spaciousness and recognition of the pure space of being; invoking air transforms pride to peacefulness and helps to support increased flexibility and improved communication; invoking re transforms greed and desire to generosity and supports increased creativity; invoking water transforms jealousy to openness and supports a peaceful presence; invoking earth transforms ignorance to wisdom and supports a grounding, abiding presence. Chaphur Rinpoche will brie y explain the purpose and qualities of each element and then guide participants in performing the Five Elements practices.


Geshe Chaphur Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Gyalshen Institute, an organization dedicated to the preservation and revival of the Zhang Zhung and Tibetan culture and traditions. He travels extensively providing teachings on Bön spiritual practices and has many on-going projects involving the preservation, translation, public presentation, and scholarly assessment of sacred Bön texts. Born in Amdo Ngaba in Eastern Tibet, he is from the Chaphur lineage, one of the oldest and most important lama family lineages within Tibet, and one of six principal high lama lineages within the Amdo region affiliated with Nangzhig Monastery. At age 16, under perilous conditions, he left Tibet and traveled many days on foot, through Tibet, Nepal and India in order to study at the Bön Dialectical School at Menri Monastery, the principal monastery for the Bön tradition in exile located in Dolanji, India. In 2006, the Tibetan Library of Dharamsala awarded him the certificate of Monk Science Scholar for his successful study of Western Sciences and Tibetan Cosmology in Southern India. In 2008, after fifteen years of study, he received his Geshe degree from Menri Monastery. He is also a master calligrapher having learned the art of calligraphy from H.E. Bon‑Gya Rinpoche at Bon-Gya Monastery in Amdo.

http://www.gyalshen.org