Mandala: Difference between revisions
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# the sacred environment and dwelling place of a [[buddha]], [[bodhisattva]] or [[deity]], which is visualized by the practitioner in tantric practice, | # the sacred environment and dwelling place of a [[buddha]], [[bodhisattva]] or [[deity]], together with the deities, which is visualized by the practitioner in tantric practice, | ||
# the two dimensional representation of this environment on cloth or paper, or made of heaps of coloured sand. | # the two dimensional representation of this environment on cloth or paper, or made of heaps of coloured sand, or three dimensional traditionally made of wood. | ||
# an offering of the entire universe visualized as a [[Pure Land]] with all the inhabitants as pure beings. | # an offering of the entire universe visualized as a [[Pure Land]] with all the inhabitants as pure beings. | ||
Revision as of 14:29, 1 October 2007
mandala [Skt.] - (Tib. kyilkhor; wyl.dkyil ‘khor). Mandala can be translated literally as ‘centre and circumference‘. A mandala is generally depicted as a circle which revolves around a centre. On the simplest level, a mandala can be understood to be us, the student or practitioner, and the phenomenal world around us. The word ‘mandala’ also describes an integrated structure that is organized around a central unifying principle.
It also means:
- the sacred environment and dwelling place of a buddha, bodhisattva or deity, together with the deities, which is visualized by the practitioner in tantric practice,
- the two dimensional representation of this environment on cloth or paper, or made of heaps of coloured sand, or three dimensional traditionally made of wood.
- an offering of the entire universe visualized as a Pure Land with all the inhabitants as pure beings.
See also mandala offering.