Have You Seen A Mandala Lately
I have always had a fascination with Mandalas, and maybe that explains my interest in Sacred Geometry. A Mandala is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as circle. But a Mandala is far from a simple circle but rather a intricate shape that represents wholeness and can be reflected as a model for the organized structure of life itself. Tibetan Monks will spend hours making intricate mandalas, called dul-tson-kyil-khor which literally means mandala of colored powders. These mandalas are created using colored sand and straws which can take days and even weeks.
The mandalas are formed using traditional iconography of geometric shapes and ancient spiritual symbols, and are created as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and it inhabitants. There are many different mandalas, each with a different lesson to teach. All monks at Tibetan monasteries are required to learn how to construct these elaborate mandalas as part of their training perhaps to teach focus of meditation, contemplation and admiration.
Mandalas and like patterns are found throughout nature, for example the rings of a tree, the winding of a seashell or the patterns in flowers, the Fibonacci spiral can also be attributed to these geometric patterns. It is a cross cultural subject from the Native American medicine wheels to the Aztec calendars, as well as the Asian Yin - Yang symbol.
This art form has been brought to the mainstreams eye as of late by touring groups of Tibetan monks traveling around the world conducting healing ceremonies, creating sand mandalas and performing traditional music and dance. For those who have been instructed in the use of mandalas, they are said to be great teachers, because they contain infinite meaning and great blessing by just being viewed.
In Buddhism contemplation of these sacred images brings ones thoughts to align with the universe and mentally enter into the center of the mandala symbolically guiding oneself to the essence of reality. They are thought to be receptacles for deities and a collection point of the universal forces.
Mandalas usually follow a similar outline with four gates represented of North, South, East and West, with gatekeepers, and the center representing the chief deity. The center represents the seed or the center of the universe. Many years of study must be undertaken to re create the sacred mandalas not only of the physical creation of the mandalas, but more importantly the sacred symbols and geometric shapes and their meanings that make up the mandala.
If you are interested in viewing some incredible mandala art work, check out “The Mandala Project“. Until next time, be safe my friends.
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Comments
Thanks for the referral to “The Mandala Project.” Like you Charles, I experience a deep fascination with mandalas. The Dalai Lama happens to be one of my inspirations. I have been very taken with mandalas which have been created by monks in different countries to honor this Lama during his visits abroad. I have not witnessed the creation of such mandalas, but have seen images of some on tv and other media. To me, gazing into mandalas represents a kind of labryinth we can follow to the innermost soul. Relatively few embark on such a mandala journey though we all have the potential to do so. It would be incredible to develop the patience and understanding to contribute to forming one.
Fascinating article, and great link to photos of the many designs. Keep on keeping on, along the path.