Tibetan mandala is a tool for gaining wisdom and compassion and generally is depicted as a tightly balanced, geometric composition wherein deities reside. The principal deity is housed in the center. The mandala serves as a tool for guiding individuals along the path to enlightenment. Monks meditate upon the mandala, imagining it as a three-dimensional palace. The deities who reside in the palace embody philosophical views and serve as role models. The mandala's purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones
Mandalas
constructed from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect
purification and healing. Typically, 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. Next, they make a detailed
drawing from memory. Over a number of days, they 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.
Construction and destruction of a sand Mandala by the Dalai Lama, from Werner Herzog documentary "Wheel of Time"
According
to Buddhist scripture, 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 even before it
is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing
the mandala's blessings with all.
In Tibetan
Buddhism, a mandala is an imaginary palace that is contemplated during
meditation. Each object in the palace has significance, representing some
aspect of wisdom or reminding the meditator of some guiding principle.
Tradition dictates the shapes, sizes and colors of these objects. There are
many different mandalas, each with different lessons to teach. Most mandalas
contain a host of deities as well as inanimate objects.
Mandalas
are usually displayed in two dimension, and are commonly made from paper,
textiles, and colored sand. In a sand painting the sand is dyed and then
carefully placed on a large, flat table. The construction process takes several
days, and the mandala is destroyed shortly after its completion. The three
dimensional mandala is projected in a unique way that displays the interior as
well as the walls of the palace. The deities are represented as Sanskrit
characters.
