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 Mandala comes from Sanskrit word meaning "circle". These
intricate works or art represent the Universe and its energy and
are meant to awaken awareness of the spiritual force within and
to remind us of the cycle of life and death.
Found in many ancient cultures, including Tibetan Buddhism, Native
American, Australian Aboriginal, and Indian Hindu, mandalas share
a common principle: they present the harmony and chaos of the
cosmos and how we are connected to this great unknown.
The image of mandala may vary from extremely simple geometrical
shapes, like a circle or triangle to extremely intricate, colorful
designs that include representations of the Hindu deities. The
pattern of a mandala is dictated by ancient teaching, and its
creation may take two or three weeks. The honor of viewing the
completed work us usually reserved for those who have been initiated
into Buddhist teaching.
During meditation followers can concentrate on symbolic designs,
as well as contemplate the wisdom of a particular deity represented
on particular mandala. However, the observer does not have to
understand the symbolism in order to perceive it the beauty of
the form, and perhaps gain from it a feeling of peace. Through
meditation the mind may tap into the healing powers of the images
presented, while creating a deep sense of peace.
Mandala can be made as paintings, sculpture and carvings, drawings
and sand or powder work as well as in mixed media . However the
most common way of producing mandalas especially in Tibet was
by grinding sand from brightly colored stones. The work is meticulous,
often progressing rain by grain.
Today, white stones are ground and dyed with opaque water colors
to produce the bright tones found in the sand paintings. Some
of the colors used in creation of mandalas include: white, black,
blue, red, yellow, and green. The final image is extremely rich
and vibrant with colors.
The ritual of the finished mandala is a symbol of the impermanence
of worldly things. The swept particles are collected and empties
into a nearby river or pond, so that the great blessing in the
sand may then flow into nature.
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