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MANDALA and its symbolic Buddhist teachings

Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

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Page 1: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALAand its symbolic Buddhist teachings

Page 2: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

AGENDAPart 1:1.Origin of Mandala2.How to use Mandala in meditation?

Part 2:3.Characteristics of Tibetan Mandala

4.Diversity & Development in Tibetan mandalas

Part 3: 5. Sand Mandala 6. Summarizing thoughts

Page 3: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

ORIGIN OF

MANDALA

Page 4: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

WHY IS MANDALA ROUND IN SHAPE? It is because the English word “circle” is translated

from the Sanskrit word mandala. Mandala is an intricate geometrical pattern in a square

or circular shape. To casual observer, a mandala may look like nothing

but a series of strange, swirling lines and colors.

Page 5: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALA EXISTS IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian

religions, representing the universe. Mandala also describes the material reality of life. Mandala represents the non-material reality of life in

the form of celestial circles such as the sun, moon and earth.

Page 6: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALA EXISTS IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE It also describes the material reality of life as

represented by the conceptual circles of family, friends and community.

The powerful circular form of the mandala is prevalent in Buddhist and Hindu religions. You will notice four gates in the shape of a ‘T’ that extend from the center point in these pieces, showing the circle of unity.

Page 7: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALA EXISTS IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE Vajrayana is a Tibetan branch of Buddhism that offer

total enlightenment by creating their mandalas as sand paintings. Of course, this is certainly not the only example of mandala used in religion.

The concept of Mandala long existed in Eastern religions and has lately found acceptance by Western and secular cultures also.

Page 8: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALA EXISTS IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE Both Buddhism and Hinduism place great emphasis on

the point of self-realization when the mandala or yantra of external world leads to the mandala of the individual. The symbols of the original mandala are now arranged in a similar form within the body.

Mandala is also an external support for meditation; and it helps provoke the feelings and visions by which man arrive at a sense of unity within himself and with the universe outside

Page 9: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

The greatest of mandalas is the spiral or circle of life. Trusting in your beliefs will give you the truest meaning. These are the strong beliefs that send you on an inner journey as you observe and are surrounded by the outer world, just as the mandala began its journey in the Sanskrit world.

Mandala has helped its practitioners to achieve peerless levels of focus and inner peace.

Page 10: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

MANDALAS ARE AN IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF MANY STRAINS OF BUDDHISM

Life is full of suffering, pains, great and small (dukkha) These pains are aggravated by fearing that which is

unpleasant, and clinging to that which gives us temporary pleasure.

To relieve yourself of pain and suffering, you must seek to give up both your fear, longing and desire.

You can achieve the cessation of pain and suffering through the Noble Eightfold Path, which is the basis for most Buddhist ethics and behaviors.

Buddhism is based on four statements known as the Four Noble Truths. One could spend a lifetime exploring the four Noble Truths, but at their most

basic, they are:

Page 11: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Division Eightfold Path factors Acquired factors

Wisdom (Sanskrit: prajñā, Pāli: paññā)

1. Right view 9. Superior right knowledge

2. Right intention 10. Superior right liberation

Ethical conduct (Sanskrit: śīla, Pāli: sīla)

3. Right speech

4. Right action

5. Right livelihood

Concentration (Sanskrit and Pāli: samādhi)

6. Right effort

7. Right mindfulness

8. Right concentration

The Noble Eightfold Path is sometimes divided into three basic divisions, as follows:

NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH

Page 12: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

HOW TO USE MANDALA IN MEDITATION? It can be done in the following ways: Display the mandala in front of you while you sit in a

comfortable position that you can maintain easily. Watch your breathing for a few minutes and allow it to become restful and easy.

Let your gaze fall on the mandala and allow it to gradually focus on the center. That is the still point of the mandala. Eventually, your attention will begin to wander, and when this happens, contemplate the outer layers of the painting or drawing.

Page 13: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

HOW TO USE MANDALA IN MEDITATION? Let your mind dwell on the meaning or design motif. As you

appreciate it, your attention will naturally gravitate back toward the center, deepening your meditation. Allow your gaze to cycle between the center and outer parts of the mandala in a way that is comfortable.

Bring your gaze to the center, which is called the bindu -- then allow it to encompass the triangles and squares that open from there to create the pattern. They may remind you of a flower. Watch your mind as it forms conceptions of what the pattern might represent.

Close your eyes when it's no longer comfortable to keep them open. Re-create the mandala and its symbolism in your mind's eye. Try to remember as much detail as possible, then forget the whole thing, focus on your breath and bring your awareness into the present moment.

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Characteristics of Tibetan Mandala

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DEITY YOGA & MANDALA

Mandalas are used as an aid in realizing the inner ground

Visualizes himself or herself as the meditation Buddha or Yidam

Yidam generally appears in a mandala

Goal: Practice compassion and wisdom

Page 16: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

A CENTRAL DEITY IS HOUSED IN A CIRCLE OR FLOWER-SHAPED CENTER

Page 17: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Terrifying Yidam - Hevajra The mandala is a symbolic

representations of sacred enclosures, sacred architecture that house and contain the uncontainable essence of a yidam

Practice of Hevajra Tantra

Lady of emptiness

Wisdom & Compassion

Page 18: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Terrifying Yidam - Chakrasamvara The tantric manifestation

of Buddha Shakyamuni The union of skill in means

and wisdom Four face = symbolizing

the four enlightened activities

The 12 arms holding various ritual objects represent the twelve interdependent links in the "wheel of life"

The twelve powers.

Page 19: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

BRILLIANT COLORED, COMPLICATED PAINTINGS

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THE “PALACE-ARCHITECTURE” COMPOSITION

The Kalachakra Mandala

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THE “PALACE-ARCHITECTURE” COMPOSITION

It is the celestial mansion, the pure residence of the deity

Image of Tibetan

Monastery

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ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY A LARGE, MULTITIERED CIRCLE

Aspire to Buddhahood by establishing himself

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ADDITIONAL DEITIES, FAMOUS PRACTITIONERS, MONKS

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Diversity & Development in Tibetan mandalas

Page 25: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

12th to early 14th centuries The ornamentation

of the architectural structure is less complicated in paintings

Fewer figures in the sides and borders

Page 26: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

14th and 15th centuries More complex

architectural configurations

Much more deities & figures

Produced in sets or series, multiple mandalas grouped into one painting

Four mandalas in a single thang ka

Four Chakrasamvara Mandalas from a Vajravali Set

Page 27: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Four Chakrasamvara Mandalas from a Vajravali Set

Chakrasamvara blue-colored body, four

faces, and twelve arms

Mother Vajravarahi

Female Dakini attendants

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Four Chakrasamvara Mandalas from a Vajravali Set

Indian scholar Tibetan Monk

Page 29: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

16th century & onwards Mandala composed of symbols(Yama and Chamunda Symbol Mandala)

Geluk order, 18th Century

Page 30: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Yama and Chamunda Symbol Mandala

Yamāntaka is seen as a angry manifestation of Mañjuśrī, the bodhisattva of wisdom

Yamāntaka

Page 31: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

16th century & onwards

Designed as depiction of the cosmos

Four major continents

Geluk order, 18th century

Mount Meru

Seven fold rings of mountains

We are here

Fierce protector deities

Page 32: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

The Sand Mandala

Mandalas constructed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to

effect purification and healing

Page 33: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Outline A great teacher chooses the specific mandala to be created.

Monks then begin construction of the sand mandala by consecrating the site with sacred chants and music.

They make a detailed drawing from memory and fill in the design with millions of grains of colored sand.

At its completion, the mandala is consecrated. The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.

Page 34: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Healing Power Sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the

environment and to the people who view them.

While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities' healing blessings.

A mandala's healing power extends to the whole world when it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water — a further expression of sharing the mandala's blessings with all.

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Blueprint

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is drawing the first lines of the sand mandala using string dipped into liquid white chalk

It takes two days for all the lines to be drawn

Page 36: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Filling in the sands

Starting in the middle and working outward

Just memorising the hundreds of symbols in the mandala design and learning how to apply the sand takes at least two years of intense study.

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Chakpur The sand, colored with vegetable dyes, is poured onto

the mandala platform with a narrow metal funnel called a "chakpur" which is scraped by another metal rod to cause sufficient vibration for the grains of sand to trickle out of its end.

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Video

Page 39: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

At the centre, it is the Tibetan “ ཏ ” representing Tārā , known as the Buddha of enlightened activity.

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Three-dimensional You can imagine that when you are looking down at a sand

mandala, you are getting a bird’s eye view of multi-level palace being viewed from directly overhead.

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Path of enlightenment The first level of the palace enlightened body The second level of the palace enlightened speech

The third level of the palace enlightened mind

Halfway inside the mind mandala is a square platform that represents the enlightened wisdom mandala

The highest level of the palace the enlightened great bliss mandala. Within it is the eight-petalled lotus, at the centre of which stands the deity symbolising full enlightenment, the union of wisdom and compassion.

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Eight Auspicious Symbols In clockwise direction:

- Endless knot- Victorious banner- Treasure vase- Golden fishes- Wheel- Lotus - Right turning conch

shell- Parasol

Page 43: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Endless knot- the Buddha’s mind

representing endless wisdom and compassion

- the continuity of the twelve links of dependent origination (the cyclic existence)

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Victorious banner

- the Buddha victory over the four destructive forces (aggregates, emotional defilements, death, and desire)

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Treasure vase

- long life, wealth and prosperity and all the benefits of this world and liberation

- a sign of the inexhaustible riches available in the Buddhist teachings

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Golden fishes- the sea in Tibetan

Buddhism is associated with the world of suffering, the cycle of samsara

- signify fearlessness and happiness as they swim freely through the oceans without drowning, freely and spontaneously (have complete freedom in the water)

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Wheel

- A wheel with eight spokes symbolizes the Noble Eightfold path, and the transmission of these teachings towards the eight directions

- Speedy turning (rapid spiritual change)

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Lotus- Grow from dark water

but unstained (symbol of purity and renunciation)

- Complete purification of the defilements of the body, speech and mind, and the full blossoming of wholesome deeds in blissful liberation

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Right-turning conch shell

- represents the beautiful sound of the spread of the Buddhadharma

- Its sound is deep, far-reaching and melodious, and hearing it awakens beings from the deep slumber of ignorance, urging them to accomplish their own and others' welfare

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Parasol

- the coolness of its shade symbolizes protection from the heat of suffering, desire, and other spiritually harmful forces

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Summarizing thoughts Mandalas, in their colourful complexity and variety in

forms, have a profoundly symbolic value and is regarded sacred by the Tibetans.

They represent basic aspects of the Buddhist path, including a strong wish to put an end to suffering, a strong wish to attain Enlightenment for the sake of others, and a correct view of Reality.

The vast number of Tibetan Buddhist deities and their symbolic attributes are an summary of visual expression of the entire path of the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings.

Page 52: Mandala and its symbolic buddhist teachings

Thank you