The Five Elements

Healing with Form Energy and Light

About this course

Welcome to the Five Elements Meditation Course. This course provides a thorough introduction to the Five Elements practices of the Bön tradition, which bring a life filled with balance and harmony. 

The Five Elements pervade our lives, are the essences of our being, and can be sources of profound healing. We will explore how the elements affect your state of being, and how working with them can help you to nourish, revitalize and balance your life. Based on nearly seven hours of educational videos created by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, this course works through many levels and techniques to support your self-discovery and realization.

In this course we work with the elemental goddesses (Tibetan: Khandro) of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Through mantra and visualization we call on them and connect to them. In the space of connection we then practice to heal ourselves on three levels: bodily, energetically, and at the level of the soul (Tibetan: La).

What is included?

  • Teaching videos with English subtitles on each of the topics

  • Guided practices led by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

  • Downloadable MP3 audio recordings of each of the guided practices

  • Discussion forum to share insights, gain support from peers, and resolve any questions with the course mentor, Polly Turner

  • Reading Assignments to enhance your understanding through focused study of Tenzin Rinpoche's book Healing with Form, energy, and Light

Students work with the online materials according to their own schedules. However, as a general guideline we suggest that students make available – 1 hour each week to enjoy the teaching videos, 30 – 90 minutes each morning during the course to experience the formal meditation practices (don’t worry if you miss a practice but try not to); and between 1 to 2 hours for reading, journaling and participating in Online discussions.

The course is structured in six parts of one week each:

1. Overview of the Five Elements:

Introducing the combination of the elements meditation practice. Establish an excellent foundation. Familiarise yourself with the online course format, meet your classmates from around the world.

2. The Earth Element:

Examine the qualities of the earth element, how it manifests in your life, and how you can bring that element into balance, using the Earth guided meditation.

3. The Water Element:

Explore the subtle qualities of water, how those qualities manifest in work, relationships, and within yourself. Experience bringing the element of fluidity into balance using the Water guided meditation.

4. The Fire Element:

Balance the fire element; stimulate creativity and connect with others. Find enthusiasm for living and gain mastery over anger. Focus these vibrant energies within yourself through the Fire guided meditation.

5. The Air Element:

Experience the healing wind that connects all the organs within your body, and which is the fundamental source of life force, or ‘lung’ in Tibetan. Stimulate the clear circulation of that force in our lives and consciousness through the Air guided meditation.

6. The Space Element:

Connect with the all pervasive, clear space that is the ground of being and is present in every moment of our lives. Feel a direct connection to this most subtle essence within ourselves through the Space guided meditation.

“This course made me realize that the Five Elements practices are an incredible antidote to the stress, anxiety, and disconnection that are so prevalent in modern life. The practices helped enormously to make me more aware of and in harmony with the natural world surrounding me and in balance with my own inner world. I reached some profound insights into certain issues I have, and the practices are truly healing.”

JB, Colorado

“I was very pleased with the course and the videos were of good quality. I found it interesting, clear and helpful in strengthening my meditation.”

Cindy, the Netherlands

We think that you will find these practices bring a new sense of harmony and well-being, and deepen any meditation practice. Please join us!