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MANDALAand 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
ORIGIN OF
MANDALA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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:
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
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.
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.
Characteristics of Tibetan Mandala
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
A CENTRAL DEITY IS HOUSED IN A CIRCLE OR FLOWER-SHAPED CENTER
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
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.
BRILLIANT COLORED, COMPLICATED PAINTINGS
THE “PALACE-ARCHITECTURE” COMPOSITION
The Kalachakra Mandala
THE “PALACE-ARCHITECTURE” COMPOSITION
It is the celestial mansion, the pure residence of the deity
Image of Tibetan
Monastery
ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY A LARGE, MULTITIERED CIRCLE
Aspire to Buddhahood by establishing himself
ADDITIONAL DEITIES, FAMOUS PRACTITIONERS, MONKS
Diversity & Development in Tibetan mandalas
12th to early 14th centuries The ornamentation
of the architectural structure is less complicated in paintings
Fewer figures in the sides and borders
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
Four Chakrasamvara Mandalas from a Vajravali Set
Chakrasamvara blue-colored body, four
faces, and twelve arms
Mother Vajravarahi
Female Dakini attendants
Four Chakrasamvara Mandalas from a Vajravali Set
Indian scholar Tibetan Monk
16th century & onwards Mandala composed of symbols(Yama and Chamunda Symbol Mandala)
Geluk order, 18th Century
Yama and Chamunda Symbol Mandala
Yamāntaka is seen as a angry manifestation of Mañjuśrī, the bodhisattva of wisdom
Yamāntaka
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
The Sand Mandala
Mandalas constructed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to
effect purification and healing
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Video
At the centre, it is the Tibetan “ ཏ ” representing Tārā , known as the Buddha of enlightened activity.
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.
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.
Eight Auspicious Symbols In clockwise direction:
- Endless knot- Victorious banner- Treasure vase- Golden fishes- Wheel- Lotus - Right turning conch
shell- Parasol
Endless knot- the Buddha’s mind
representing endless wisdom and compassion
- the continuity of the twelve links of dependent origination (the cyclic existence)
Victorious banner
- the Buddha victory over the four destructive forces (aggregates, emotional defilements, death, and desire)
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
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)
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)
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
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
Parasol
- the coolness of its shade symbolizes protection from the heat of suffering, desire, and other spiritually harmful forces
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.
Thank you