The Medicine Buddha Mandala, 2025 in Folsom. Also known as Bhaiṣajya-guru in Sanskrit, is a Buddhist figure who represents healing and is known for his 12 great aspirations to help beings: 

• He vows to relieve suffering from illness and poor health 

• He vows to bless all beings with good health, both physically and mentally 

• He vows to relieve pain and poverty of the sick and poor 

• He vows to cure the sick, help the helpless, and assist the poor 

Buddhists chant the Medicine Buddha's mantra to protect against sickness and disease, and to purify the body and soul. The mantra is especially potent for those in the healing profession, such as doctors, nurses, surgeons, healers, and psychologists. 

The Medicine Buddha is often depicted holding a bowl of herbs in his left hand. Some say that placing a Medicine Buddha statue in a bright, sunny room or in the north of northeast (NNE) of an address can help seek blessings for good health or relieve illness.

Wheel of Life Mandala, 2025 in Placerville mandala. Also called "Bhavacakra" in Sanskrit, is a visual representation of the Buddhist concept of samsara, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, often depicted as a wheel with concentric circles that illustrate the causes of suffering and the potential for liberation through enlightenment; at its core, it usually shows three animals symbolizing the "Three Poisons" (ignorance, attachment, and anger), while the outer rim displays the twelve links of dependent origination, signifying the chain of causes leading to suffering; the whole mandala is often held by Yama, the Lord of Death, with the Buddha figure pointing towards the possibility of escaping the cycle of rebirth.

Key elements of the Wheel of Life mandala:

Central Hub:

Represents the "Three Poisons" - a pig (ignorance), a snake (anger), and a rooster (desire) - considered the root cause of suffering.

Concentric Circles:

Each circle depicts different aspects of the cycle of rebirth, with the outer circle often showing the twelve links of dependent origination, illustrating the chain of causes leading to suffering.

Six Realms of Existence:

Divided into the higher realms (gods, demigods, humans) and lower realms (animals, hungry ghosts, hell) where beings are reborn based on their karma.

Yama (Lord of Death):

Often depicted holding the wheel, signifying the cycle of death and rebirth.

Buddha Figure:

Usually seen outside the wheel, pointing towards the possibility of liberation from the cycle of suffering through enlightenment.

Meaning: The Wheel of Life mandala serves as a powerful visual teaching tool in Buddhism, illustrating the interconnected nature of existence, the consequences of our actions (karma), and the path to liberation from suffering through understanding the causes of samsara.