Mandala artMandala artGuide to meditation and concentrationGuide to meditation and concentration

Modern Mandala ExamplesModern Mandala Examples

Often used in commercial endeavours; like Often used in commercial endeavours; like cards and calandars. cards and calandars.

What does this remind you of? What What does this remind you of? What symbol do you connect it to?symbol do you connect it to?

Sanskrit OriginsSanskrit Origins

Mandala can be translated into ‘circle’ or Mandala can be translated into ‘circle’ or ‘completion’.‘completion’.

Mandalas are connected to the ‘dharma Mandalas are connected to the ‘dharma wheel’.wheel’.

Mandalas are to be meditated on to move Mandalas are to be meditated on to move closer to enlightenment.closer to enlightenment.

Dharma WheelDharma Wheel

The eight spokes of The eight spokes of the wheel represent the wheel represent the the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism. The of Buddhism. The sharp edges are to sharp edges are to cut through cut through ignorance, in the ignorance, in the pursuit of truth.pursuit of truth.

Tibetan MandalasTibetan Mandalas

Tibetan monks create rare sand mandalas Tibetan monks create rare sand mandalas symbolizing the power of an ancient symbolizing the power of an ancient spiritual vision.spiritual vision.

ThangkasThangkas

Wall hangings found in Tibetan Buddhist Wall hangings found in Tibetan Buddhist temples which depict / display the temples which depict / display the Mandala concept.Mandala concept.

Brightly coloured painted cloth, also Brightly coloured painted cloth, also created as a form of meditation and created as a form of meditation and contemplation.contemplation.

ThangkaThangka

Mandala art in its purist Mandala art in its purist formform

reminds us of our relation to the infinite, reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds. within our bodies and minds.

Why?Why?

A mandala is thought to bring peace A mandala is thought to bring peace and harmony to the area where it is and harmony to the area where it is being constructed.being constructed.

Celebrations of the Natural WorldCelebrations of the Natural World

Celebration of FeelingCelebration of Feeling

What would you create?What would you create?

Tibetan Buddhists say that a mandala consists Tibetan Buddhists say that a mandala consists of five "excellencies“.of five "excellencies“.

The teacher • The message • The audience • The teacher • The message • The audience • The site • The timeThe site • The time

An audience or "viewer" is An audience or "viewer" is necessary for the creation of a necessary for the creation of a mandala; what you perceive / mandala; what you perceive / see will determine its effect. see will determine its effect.

Check it out!Check it out!

Labyrinths are a type ofLabyrinths are a type ofmandala found in many mandala found in many cultures and are used as acultures and are used as atool for centering and meditation.tool for centering and meditation.

Celebration of Prayer and Celebration of Prayer and MeditationMeditation

Monks making a sand mandala.Monks making a sand mandala.

The Making of a MandalaThe Making of a Mandala Here are the four circles, symbolising the enlightenment, Here are the four circles, symbolising the enlightenment,

which the meditating person must gain, before she can which the meditating person must gain, before she can enter the illuminated palace: enter the illuminated palace: fire of wisdomfire of wisdom: the : the outermost circle consists of the purifying fireoutermost circle consists of the purifying firevajra circlevajra circle: the diamond circle expresses strength and : the diamond circle expresses strength and fearlessnessfearlessnesstombstombs: there are eight tombs, which symbolises the : there are eight tombs, which symbolises the eight states of consciousness*, which the person must eight states of consciousness*, which the person must go beyondgo beyondlotus circlelotus circle: expresses the open state of devotion, that : expresses the open state of devotion, that is necessary to enter the palace is necessary to enter the palace

Buddhist SchoolsBuddhist Schools The original Buddhism very early divided into to schools:The original Buddhism very early divided into to schools:

TheravadaTheravada and and MahayanaMahayanaTheravadaTheravada means "the tradition of the elderly", but is means "the tradition of the elderly", but is also ironically called Hinayana "the little vessel" by the also ironically called Hinayana "the little vessel" by the followers of Mahayana. According to the Theravada followers of Mahayana. According to the Theravada Buddhism, the individual can itself work its way forward Buddhism, the individual can itself work its way forward to freedom from the suffering in the world. The followers to freedom from the suffering in the world. The followers of the Theravada Buddhism live in Burma, Thailand and of the Theravada Buddhism live in Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Theravada is therefore also called the Sri Lanka. Theravada is therefore also called the Southern Buddhism.Southern Buddhism.

MahayanaMahayana means "the big vessel". According to means "the big vessel". According to the Mahayana Buddhism a universal love leads the Mahayana Buddhism a universal love leads to freedom from the sufferings of the world. The to freedom from the sufferings of the world. The Buddhist begins to arouse the wish in herself to Buddhist begins to arouse the wish in herself to release all beings from suffering. The supporters release all beings from suffering. The supporters of the Mahayana Buddhism live in Tibet, China, of the Mahayana Buddhism live in Tibet, China, Korea and Japan. Mahayana is therefore also Korea and Japan. Mahayana is therefore also called the Northern Buddhism. called the Northern Buddhism.

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism or VajrayanaVajrayana Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism is a branch of the Mahayana Buddhism. According to the legend, the the Mahayana Buddhism. According to the legend, the founder founder PadmasambhavaPadmasambhava was born in a lake in a lotus was born in a lake in a lotus blossom. The Padmasambhava Lake is considered to blossom. The Padmasambhava Lake is considered to have the clearest blue colour of all the lakes in the world have the clearest blue colour of all the lakes in the world and to hold strong healing power. One of the means of and to hold strong healing power. One of the means of the Tibetan Buddhists to gain freedom is meditation on the Tibetan Buddhists to gain freedom is meditation on sublime thoughts and pictures. Such a picture is the sublime thoughts and pictures. Such a picture is the mandala. mandala.

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Making Your OwnMaking Your Own

Contemplate things in the world that are Contemplate things in the world that are important to you or that weigh on you.important to you or that weigh on you.

Contemplate the colour(s) that you Contemplate the colour(s) that you associate with these things and why.associate with these things and why.

Draw and colour a Mandala that Draw and colour a Mandala that represents an important subject or topic.represents an important subject or topic.

Write a brief explanation, on the back of Write a brief explanation, on the back of the mandala, for the choices you’ve made.the mandala, for the choices you’ve made.

ENJOY!!!!ENJOY!!!!