Healing the World, Healing the World, Healing the Self: Healing the Self: Comparing Sand Comparing Sand Painting in Tibetan and Painting in Tibetan and Navajo TraditionsNavajo Traditions

Dr. David Otto, Professor of Dr. David Otto, Professor of Religious Studies Religious Studies

What is a Mandala?What is a Mandala?

A highly symmetrical designA highly symmetrical design Concentrated on a centerConcentrated on a center Divided into four quadrants Divided into four quadrants Built on concentric circles and Built on concentric circles and

squaressquares Often using symbols to depict godsOften using symbols to depict gods Designed to be used only onceDesigned to be used only once

But what should I look But what should I look at?at?

What direction is the Mandala facing?What direction is the Mandala facing?• Black, in the east, is associated Black, in the east, is associated

with the element of winds. with the element of winds. Sometimes also seen as Green.Sometimes also seen as Green.

• South is red, its elements is fire. South is red, its elements is fire. • West is yellow, associated with the West is yellow, associated with the

element of earthelement of earth• North is white, representing water. North is white, representing water.

North

East

South

West

Next, locate the GatesNext, locate the Gates

Each gate leads into the central Each gate leads into the central palacepalace

Gates are T-Shaped and placed at Gates are T-Shaped and placed at the four cardinal pointsthe four cardinal points

Where is the Central Where is the Central Palace?Palace?

Mandalas work as two-dimensional Mandalas work as two-dimensional and three dimensional objects and three dimensional objects simultaneously. simultaneously.

So far, we have been viewing the So far, we have been viewing the temple from the sky—literally, a temple from the sky—literally, a “god’s eye view”“god’s eye view”

If we look at it in three dimensions…If we look at it in three dimensions…

So where is the temple So where is the temple located?located?

In Tibetan cosmology, the In Tibetan cosmology, the universe is comprised of universe is comprised of hundreds of millions of cylinders.hundreds of millions of cylinders.

Each cylinder represents a Each cylinder represents a universeuniverse

On each universe, a temple for On each universe, a temple for the gods is constructed.the gods is constructed.

Temple as Temple as Mount MeruMount Meru

Mount Meru is a place which Mount Meru is a place which simultaneously represents the simultaneously represents the center of the universe and the center of the universe and the single-pointedness of mind single-pointedness of mind

Thousands of miles in height, Meru Thousands of miles in height, Meru is located somewhere beyond the is located somewhere beyond the physical plane of reality, in a realm physical plane of reality, in a realm of perfection and transcendence of perfection and transcendence

Building a FoundationBuilding a Foundation

Space/ether represented by the Space/ether represented by the farthest concentric circlefarthest concentric circle

Next, the air diskNext, the air disk Then the fire diskThen the fire disk Water diskWater disk Earth diskEarth disk

Space

Air Disk

Fire Disk

Water Disk

Earth Disk

Switching ViewpointSwitching Viewpoint

So, when we travel back to our So, when we travel back to our “god’s eye view”, how do we “god’s eye view”, how do we locate the lower disks/realms?locate the lower disks/realms?

Viewing the Viewing the FoundationFoundation

Earth Disk (Green)Earth Disk (Green) Water Disk (White)Water Disk (White) Fire Disk (Red)Fire Disk (Red) Air Disk (Black)Air Disk (Black)

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of the Mandala?the Mandala?

To reduce order to disorder To reduce order to disorder through mediationthrough mediation

Movement toward Movement toward emptinessemptiness Shift through the Shift through the three three

perspectivesperspectives– Outer perspectiveOuter perspective– Inner perspectiveInner perspective– Alternative perspectiveAlternative perspective

Outer PerspectiveOuter Perspective

Comprised by the six elements of Comprised by the six elements of earth, water, fire, air, space and earth, water, fire, air, space and wisdom; and all objects of smell, wisdom; and all objects of smell, sight, taste, touch, sound and sight, taste, touch, sound and Dharma. Another division follows Dharma. Another division follows the cosmic buildup of the universe.the cosmic buildup of the universe.

Each universe is born, lives, and Each universe is born, lives, and dies.dies.

The lesson: The lesson: ImpermanenceImpermanence

Inner PerspectiveInner Perspective

Consists of the body and mind of Consists of the body and mind of living beings, the psychophysical living beings, the psychophysical aggregates, the sensory and psychic aggregates, the sensory and psychic capacities capacities

Includes the six types of living Includes the six types of living beings (gods, demigods, humans, beings (gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell-animals, hungry ghosts and hell-beings), the six energy centers beings), the six energy centers (chakras) of the body(chakras) of the body

Inner PerspectiveInner Perspective

In short, the human body is a In short, the human body is a Mandala. Mandala.

Head as the dwelling place of the gods

Trunk of body as Mount Meru

Legs and arms as the four main continents of the universe

Eyes as the Sun and Moon

Alternative Alternative Perspective Perspective

Describes the spiritual method Describes the spiritual method leading to enlightenment in the leading to enlightenment in the form of form of Kalachakra Kalachakra (a special (a special type of mediation based on the type of mediation based on the mandala)mandala)

It describes the Generation and It describes the Generation and Completion Stages of meditationCompletion Stages of meditation

So, what about So, what about Navajo Sand Navajo Sand

PaintingPainting??

Navajo Sand PaintingNavajo Sand Painting

In its earliest form, exclusively In its earliest form, exclusively bound to healing rituals and bound to healing rituals and exorcisms.exorcisms.

With increased tourism, sand With increased tourism, sand painting has been largely painting has been largely removed from its religious removed from its religious context, with much of its context, with much of its symbolism removed.symbolism removed.

Navajo Sand PaintingNavajo Sand Painting

In a literal sense, Navajo Sand In a literal sense, Navajo Sand Painting (Painting (iikaahiikaah) means “A place ) means “A place where gods come and go”where gods come and go”

In the religious context, sand In the religious context, sand painting used during painting used during Chantway Chantway rituals rituals to restore the balance to to restore the balance to the universe (the universe (HozoHozo))

HozoHozo

Navajo traditionally believed that Navajo traditionally believed that the the DineDine (Holy Ones) placed them (Holy Ones) placed them on Earth to keep the cosmos in on Earth to keep the cosmos in balance through balance through ChantwaysChantways..

When illness occurs, apparently a When illness occurs, apparently a lack of balance between goodness lack of balance between goodness and evil (both considered and evil (both considered necessary for life to exist)necessary for life to exist)

Hozo and Sand Hozo and Sand PaintingPainting

Only three Chantway Ceremonies Only three Chantway Ceremonies make use of sand painting:make use of sand painting:– BlessingwayBlessingway (ceremony of cosmic (ceremony of cosmic

rebalancing)rebalancing)– HolywayHolyway (rebalancing due to (rebalancing due to

improper contact with gods or improper contact with gods or supernatural forces)supernatural forces)

– EvilwayEvilway (rebalancing due to improper (rebalancing due to improper contact with ghosts or witches)contact with ghosts or witches)

Chantway Sand Chantway Sand PaintingPainting

• Sand painting ritual occurs only Sand painting ritual occurs only during the last four days of the during the last four days of the Chantway ceremony (which will Chantway ceremony (which will last either five or nine days)last either five or nine days)

• Can only occur under the Can only occur under the direction of a “Singer” who is direction of a “Singer” who is trained by the Dine in the trained by the Dine in the construction of the painting.construction of the painting.

How is a Sand Painting How is a Sand Painting like a Mandala?like a Mandala?

A highly symmetrical designA highly symmetrical design Concentrated on a centerConcentrated on a center Divided into four quadrants Divided into four quadrants Often using symbols to depict Often using symbols to depict

godsgods Designed to be used only onceDesigned to be used only once

What Should I Notice?What Should I Notice?

First, look at the border of the First, look at the border of the painting.painting.

Literally serves as a “containment Literally serves as a “containment field” so the supernatural beings field” so the supernatural beings cannot disrupt that which stands cannot disrupt that which stands outside the paintingoutside the painting

Opening always on the EastOpening always on the East

Guarding Border

East

What should I notice?What should I notice?

Next, identify the gods.Next, identify the gods. Clockwise from the top:Clockwise from the top:

– Talking GodTalking God (B'ganaskiddy), the teacher (B'ganaskiddy), the teacher– At the bottom, At the bottom, Calling GodCalling God (Hastye-o- (Hastye-o-

gahn), associated with farming and fertilitygahn), associated with farming and fertility– On each side, left and right, are On each side, left and right, are two two

humpbacked guardians, humpbacked guardians, seed gatherers seed gatherers and bearers. The two guardians usually and bearers. The two guardians usually carry tobacco pouches. carry tobacco pouches.

Why These Gods?Why These Gods?

Mythic tale of journey and Mythic tale of journey and adventure to discover a cure to a adventure to discover a cure to a diseasedisease

Apparently, this sand painting will Apparently, this sand painting will be used for an ill “patient”be used for an ill “patient”

Once painting is complete, the Once painting is complete, the patient will be seated in the patient will be seated in the middle of the work, thus middle of the work, thus becoming part of the paintingbecoming part of the painting

Navajo Sand Painting Navajo Sand Painting in a Hoganin a Hogan

What Should I Notice?What Should I Notice?

The SymmetryThe Symmetry The balance represents the The balance represents the

mythic topography of the Navajo mythic topography of the Navajo Nation.Nation.

Each cardinal point associated Each cardinal point associated with a colorwith a color

So, like Tibetan mandalas, Navajo So, like Tibetan mandalas, Navajo Sand Painting represents a sacred Sand Painting represents a sacred cosmology, uses color cosmology, uses color associations, and possesses an associations, and possesses an outer (universal) and inner outer (universal) and inner (human body) perspective.(human body) perspective.