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The 'wheel' and 'mandala'
The 'wheel' and 'mandala'
This site is based on a structured framework of mindfulness themes. The framework (or wheel) is loosely based on the idea of skandha — recurring groups of themes that can occupy our minds. However, it abandons the prescriptive approach of Buddhist meditative practice in which the purpose is progressively to detach yourself from these ideas in order to move towards enlightenment. You can use it that way if you want to, but you don't have to.
The wheel is not hierarchical. The locations near the apex do not necessarily represent higher levels of consciousness than those near the base. However, the themes near the base (and those on the external path) are often easier to engage with if you are near the start of your mindfulness journey.
The mandala at the centre of the wheel represents the relationships and interactions between the themes, and the possible journeys you might take if you want your mindfulness to be more dynamic contemplation.
Locations and pathways
Locations and pathways
External and internal
External and internal
There are two main pathways for mindfulness journeys. The external (Ex) pathway focuses your attention outwards to your immediate environment and the wider world. The internal (In) pathway focuses your attention inwards to your feelings, thoughts and sense of meaning.
The external and internal paths meet at the base (basal node) and the apex (apical node) to form a circle.
Within each pathway there are core locations (themes or topics) on which you can focus your attention. You might think of these as stepping stones, waypoints, landmarks or places of interest on your journeys. They are not really discrete themes. In reality, they overlap and merge into one another.
Movement from the base to the apex represents greater degrees of abstraction and widening of spatiotemporal perception. Movement from the apex to the base represents increased grounding in the here and now.
You may notice that this framework incorporates the concepts of yin and yang in various ways.
Being and doing
Being and doing
Each theme is split into two elements — one focused on stillness and the other on movement. So each pathway is actually two pathways — a ‘being’ focused pathway and a ‘doing’ focused pathway.
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