Franklin & Marshall Magazine. “You Are Here!”: The Mandala as Universal Map — the mandalaZone archives… A map is a document of location, a covenent of security and place. It can comfort us, by showing us exactly where we are, or if we are lost it can show us the way home. The mandala shares this purpose, this powerful reason for being. Every mandala is a map of the entire universe, with all its fleeting moments, eternal truths and infinite possibilities. It is a cartography of cosmic structure, a visual representation of the potentiality of form, the variability of circumstance, the endless expressions of beauty that can emerge from the pulsing heart of being. It is as if we could stand outside of the universe and draw a diagram of the relationships we see, the interwoven threads of cause and effect that stretch from the origins of time and space into the unimaginably distant future. What is a Mandala. Discovering the Purpose of a Mandala.
The mandala has long been a symbol of many varying cultures and religions, from ancient Buddhism to modern day Christianity.
While some credit its intricate designs to artistic genius, others regularly dismiss mandalas as superstition and folklore. Mandala art is as intriguing as it is beautiful, enduring for countless generations throughout the ages. Whatever your belief system, learning more about the mandala can provide you with a wealth of knowledge in regards to history and faith, especially as related to today’s New Age principles. You can even discover how to make your own mandala for décor or educational purposes.
The Origins of Mandala ArtThe word “mandala” finds its roots in Tibetan Sanskrit, meaning “containing” or “circle completion.” Due to a mandala’s often large round shape and design, many religious traditions continue to use it as a way to map out a holy space for meditation. Early Tibetan Mandalas. Sand mandala. The Sand Mandala (Tibetan: དཀྱིལ་འཁོར།, Wylie: dkyil 'khor; Chinese: 沙坛城; pinyin: Shā Tánchéng) is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand. A sand mandala is ritualistically destroyed once it has been completed and its accompanying ceremonies and viewing are finished to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life.
Sand mandala displaying its materials Materials and construction[edit] Historically, the mandala was not created with natural, dyed sand, but granules of crushed coloured stone. In modern times, plain white stones are ground down and dyed with opaque inks to achieve the same effect. Themes[edit] Carl Jung and the Mandala. The Mandala Project: Home Page. Tibetan Healing Mandala - The Mandala. Mandala. Thangka painting of Manjuvajra Mandala The term is of Sanskrit origin.
It appears in the Rig Veda as the name of the sections of the work, but is also used in other religions and philosophies, particularly Buddhism. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe. Hinduism[edit] Religious meaning[edit] A yantra is a two- or three-dimensional geometric composition used in sadhanas, puja or meditative rituals. Many situate yantras as central focus points for Hindu tantric practice.
Despite its cosmic meanings a yantra is a reality lived. Political meaning[edit] Buddhism[edit] Early and Theravada Buddhism[edit] Tibetan Vajrayana[edit] Practice[edit] Sand Mandalas. Pause, Breathe, Remember... Untitled Document. Mandala.