What is a Mandala? ‘The word ‘mandala’ is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean “circle,” ‘a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of lf itse--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation tothe infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds. Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community A mandala is... An integrated structure organized around a unifying center Longchenpa "The integrated view of the world represented by the mandala, while long embraced by some Eastern religions, has now begun to emerge in Western religious and secular cultures. Awareness of the mandala may have the potential of changing how we see ourselves, our planet, and perhaps even our own life purpose.” (From Mandala: Journey tothe Genter, by Bailey Cunningham) Creating unity Creating a group mandala is a unifying experience in which people can express themselves individually within a unified structure. ‘The Mandala Project workshops for children include the creation of a group mandala quilt. The students enjoy creating individual mandalas that are incorporated into a larger work of art. Creating a group mandala can be an enjoyable activity with friends. It can also provide an excellent closure to an event or workshop. ‘These photos of a beach rock mandala were taken by Mary Ann Rolfe. The mandala was made at the culmination of a weeklong workshop in August 1998 at Findhorn in the Northern part of Scotland Mary Ann writes about the experience: "We all brainstormed to decide on a closing project to celebrate the week and the wonderful connections we had made with people from all over the world, the Findhorn Foundation and with ourselves. "At this lovely North Sea beach, instead of sand we found incredible washed stones of every size and color. So, we began this impromptu creation knowing that part of the beauty would be in its temporary nature as the tides washed it away.” See Mary Ann's personal mandala. Cross-cultural patterns ‘The mandala pattern is used in many religious traditions, Hildegard von Bingen, a Christian nun in the 12th century, created many beautiful mandalas to express her visions and beliefs. In the Americas, Indians have created medicine wheels and sand mandalas. The circular Aztec calendar was both a timekeeping device and a religious expression of ancient Aztecs. In Asia, the Taoist *yin-yang" symbol represents opposition as well as interdependence. Tibetan mandaias are often highly intricate llustrations of religious significance that are used for meditation,Different cultures, similar expressions Both Navajo Indians and Tibetan monks create sand mandalas to demonstrate the impermanence of life. In ancient Tibet, as part of a spiritual practice, monks created intricate mandalas with colored sand made of crushed semiprecious stones. The tradition continues to this day as the monks travel to different cultures around the world to create sand mandalas and educate people about the culture of Tibet. The creation of a sand mandala requires many hours and days to complete. Each mandala contains many symbols that must be perfectly reproduced each time the mandala is created. When finished, the monks gather in a colorful ceremony, chanting in deep tones as they sweep their mandala into a jar and ‘empty it into a nearby body of water as a blessing. This action also symbolizes symbolizes the cycle of life ‘Aworld away, the American Navajo people also create impermanent sand paintings which are used in spiritual rituals~in much the same way as as they are used by Tibetans. A Navajo sandpainting ritual may last from five to nine days and range in size from three to fifteen feet or more. Learn more about Tibetan art and culture Learn more about Navajo Sand Paintings mandalas in architecture From Buddhist stupas to Muslim mosques and Christian cathedrals, the principle of a structure built around a center is a common theme in architecture. Native American teepees are conical shapes built around a pole that represents the "axis mundi or world axis. Buckminster Fuller expanded on the dome design with his famous geodesic dome structures. The dome structure has the highest ratio of enclosed area to external surface area, and all structural members contribute equally to the whole~a great structural representation of a mandalal Micro to macro Representing the universe itself, a mandala is both the microcosm and the macrocosm, je" and we are all part of its intricate design. The mandala is more than an image seen with &, our eyes itis an actual moment in time, It can be can be used as a vehicle o explore. 6. Bt — art, science, religion and life itself. The mandala contains an encyclopedia of the finite Ser, ani a road map to lney, 9] Carl Jung sald that a mandala symbolizes "a safe refuge of inner reconciliation and wholeness.” Itis “a synthesis of distinctive elements in a unified scheme representing the basic nature of existence.” Jung used the mandala for his own personal growth and wrote about his experiences. a Itis said by Tibetan Buddhists that a mandala consists of five "excellences”: ‘The teacher * The message * The audience « The site + The time ‘An audience or “viewer” is necessary to create a mandala. Where there is no you, there is no mandala, (From: You Are the Eyes of the World, by Longchenpa, translated by Lipman and Peterson).i Mandala Meditation Instructions Mandala 1 Hang your mandala on a wall in a wellit spot where you can comfortably do your meditation practice. The center of the mandala should be at eye level and about two feet away from you when you are seated in front of it. You can also choose to place your mandala on an easel if you would like the option of mobility but you may find that the creation of a sacred space will help you to get in the desired frame of mind. In the easter tradition, various objects, arranged according to principles of feng shui, have been used in meditation spaces. These typically include a balance of items with masculine of feminine qualities, flowers, incense and candles. Include any objects that have personal meaning to you or that you feel will help you to quiet your mind. Sit in a comfortable position. The lotus pose is ideal for meditation practice, as itis believed to bring the mind and body into harmony. To do, sit cross-legged with your spine straight. If you are doing this correctly, you should feel an imaginary line running straight from your tail bone up through your head. Shoulders should be relaxed but not rounded or hunched. Relax hands on your knees, palm side up. A pillow or folded blanket can be used to sit on, if desired. If the lotus position is painful, do not force yourself into it. As an alternative, you can sit on the edge of a chair, spine erect. Use whatever pose is comfortable, just so long as you maintain good posture. If you have difficulty keeping your spine straight, try sitting with your back against a wall Close your eyes. Breathe in through the nose, letting the breath flow naturally up from the diaphragm, filing the lungs and spreading into the head before releasing out through the mouth. Take deep, even breaths, feeling the slowing rhythms of your body as you do so. Feel your body relax, let tension go. As thoughts arise or you become aware of physical distractions, simply acknowledge them and then let them go. Do not attempt to force thoughts from your head or feelings from your body. Accept them as. part of the experience. Visualize the mandala and focus your energy into your heart until you can feel your eneray flowing between your heart and the center of the mandala. Keep breathing and stay stil and centered until you are ready to open your eyes.Gaze at your mandala with slightly unfocused eyes. Keep breathing, deeply and evenly, letting the oxygen flow in and the toxins flow out. Look deeply into the center of the mandala, trying to blink as little as possible. Don't focus on the details of the mandala, but just keep your sight right in the center and observe the image as a whole, Next, allow yourself to notice the various elements of the mandala. You may be attracted to certain images, pattems and colors. Let your thoughts come and go as you gaze. Focus your eyes and start visually exploring the mandala, beginning with the outer parts and moving inward toward the center. Go slowly, taking in as much as you can before moving on. The mandala holds the power of unity, healing, balance and wholeness. The center is where the crux of this power lies. Use whichever concept speaks to you as you foous intently on the center. Once again, explore the energy flow between the heart and the center of the mandala. Close your eyes and feel the harmony within. Allow yourseff to feel whatever the mandala is sending to you. Open your eyes when you feel ready. Repeat your journey through the mandala once more, if you wish. Tips & Warnings ‘+ Try keeping a journal of any thoughts that arose during meditation that you feel warrant further exploration, + Ifyou have difficulty doing the recommended 15-30 minute daily sessions, keep in mind that even one minute of gazing can be beneficial. Meditation cannot be forced and it takes time to train the mind to the practice. itis called a practice because meditation is a never ending journey of setf-discovery. It is not something to be mastered. Keep trying to stay focused in the present and do not get discouraged it ing as you think they should. 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