धर्मचक्र मुद्रा
Dharmachakra (धर्मचक्र) means 'Wheel of Dharma' or 'Wheel of Law'
The hands have a disproportionately large area of representation in the brain's sensory and motor cortices, a concept visualized by the cortical homunculus.
A mudra holds the fingers in a specific, sustained posture, creating a stable and precise pattern of neural input from the hand to the brain.
This focused neural circuit influences brainwave activity and helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, allowing you to consciously shift your psychological and energetic state towards a desired quality like calmness or focus.
Both hands forming interlocking circles at heart level
During teaching or dharma study
Intermediate
Highlighted fingers indicate active contact points
HAND(LEFT) PALM(INWARD) WRIST(STRAIGHT) T: STRAIGHT, TOUCH(RIGHT.T.tip) 1: STRAIGHT, TOUCH(RIGHT.1.tip) 2: BENT 3: BENT 4: BENT FINGERS(INTERLOCKED) HAND(RIGHT) PALM(OUTWARD) WRIST(STRAIGHT) T: STRAIGHT, TOUCH(LEFT.T.tip) 1: STRAIGHT, TOUCH(LEFT.1.tip) 2: BENT 3: BENT 4: BENT FINGERS(INTERLOCKED) # Palms face opposite directions, circles touching
Form two circles by touching thumb to index finger on each hand. Bring both hands to chest height so the circles lightly touch. Right palm faces outward (expression). Left palm faces inward (listening). Keep shoulders relaxed, neck long, and breathe through the nose. Practice steps - Arrive for three slow breaths. Inhale receive. Exhale express. - Listen: place attention in the left, inward‑facing circle for 6–8 breaths. - Speak: shift attention to the right, outward‑facing circle; let the out‑...
Traditional texts describe this as "supporting clear communication and balanced learning" — their terms for how this heart-level hand positioning with connected circles activates the parasympathetic nervous system's communication functions. Practitioners often report that this mudra helps develop what ancient sources called "teaching awareness" — the calm, centered state that can support clear exp
Bring thumb and index finger together on both hands to make two soft circles. Lift your hands to chest height so the circles lightly touch. Right palm faces outward for expression. Left palm faces inward for listening. Lengthen through the crown. Let shoulders drop. Soften the jaw and rest the tongue on the roof of the mouth. Breathe through the nose with a quiet, slightly longer exhale. Arrive Take three slow breaths. Inhale to receive. Exhale to express. Keep the fingertip contact light, not pinched. Notice what is present—busy thoughts, a tight throat, a rush to talk, or a habit of holding back. Nothing to fix. Just see it clearly. Feel your seat supported. Let the back of the neck lengthen. Listen first Place attention in the left, inward‑facing circle. Feel the exact contact of thumb and index—the temperature, pressure, and texture at the pads. Relax the back of the tongue and the soft palate. Let the breath spread wide across the ribs. If the mind starts preparing replies, name it “rehearsing,” and return to touch and breath. Stay for 10–14 breaths, letting the out‑breath extend one or two counts longer than the inhale. Sensing begins to replace story; listening becomes easier than planning. Speak clearly Shift attention to the right, outward‑facing circle. Keep the circles touching. On each exhale, form one concise inner sentence such as, “The key point is…,” “What matters most is…,” or “One clear request is…”. Let a full inhale occur before the next idea. If urgency rises, lower the elbows slightly and lengthen the next exhale to steady the pace. Let your face and jaw soften so the throat stays open. Notice how fewer words often land more cleanly. Integrate Hold both circles evenly. Inhale receive. Exhale express. Try a micro‑practice you can use in real conversations: first reflect the other person in one line (“What I hear is …”). Then add one line of your own (“What I mean is …”). Feel both hands equally alive as the bridge between listening and speaking. If you lose the thread, return to fingertip contact and one longer exhale. Let the circles touch as a reminder that understanding and clarity belong together. Close Lower your hands. Sense more space in the throat and warmth at the heart. Carry one cue into your next conversation: listen first, then speak clearly. Re‑form the circles for three slow breaths anytime you need to reset. Notice, over time, fewer interruptions, clearer requests, and easier repair after missteps.
Traditional Buddhist iconography describes this as representing balanced communication - the left hand symbolizing receptive listening and the right hand representing clear expression, with connected circles showing the continuous flow between learning and sharing. Ancient practitioners believed thi