Mandala: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Mandala''' (Skt. ''maṇḍala''; Tib. ''kyilkhor''; [[Wyl.]] ''dkyil ‘khor'') | '''Mandala''' (Skt. ''maṇḍala''; 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: | 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 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. | # 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 [[ | # an offering of the entire universe visualized as a [[pure land]] with all the inhabitants as pure beings. | ||
See also [[mandala offering]]. | See also [[mandala offering]]. | ||
==Animation== | |||
== Animation == | |||
The following animation shows how a two dimensional mandala actually represents the environment, the palace, the seats and the deities. This example is based on the [[Rigdzin Düpa]] [[sadhana]]. | The following animation shows how a two dimensional mandala actually represents the environment, the palace, the seats and the deities. This example is based on the [[Rigdzin Düpa]] [[sadhana]]. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 15: | ||
== Further Reading == | == Further Reading == | ||
Brauen, Martin, ''The Mandala, Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism'' (London: Serindia Publications, 1997). First Publishded as ''Das Mandala: Der Heilige Kreis im tantrischen Buddhismus'' (Köln: DuMont, 1992) | *Brauen, Martin, ''The Mandala, Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism'' (London: Serindia Publications, 1997). First Publishded as ''Das Mandala: Der Heilige Kreis im tantrischen Buddhismus'' (Köln: DuMont, 1992) | ||
[[Category:Key Terms]] | [[Category:Key Terms]] | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 11 December 2008
Mandala (Skt. maṇḍala; 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.
Animation
The following animation shows how a two dimensional mandala actually represents the environment, the palace, the seats and the deities. This example is based on the Rigdzin Düpa sadhana.
<swf width="640" height="480">http://www.rigpawiki.org/Media/Video/mandala.swf</swf>
Further Reading
- Brauen, Martin, The Mandala, Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism (London: Serindia Publications, 1997). First Publishded as Das Mandala: Der Heilige Kreis im tantrischen Buddhismus (Köln: DuMont, 1992)