Buddhism Mandala

1 buddhism

1.1 , theravada buddhism
1.2 vajrayana

1.2.1 visualisation of vajrayana teachings

1.2.1.1 mount meru
1.2.1.2 wisdom , impermanence
1.2.1.3 5 buddhas


1.2.2 practice
1.2.3 offerings


1.3 shingon buddhism
1.4 nichiren buddhism
1.5 pure land buddhism

buddhism

painted 17th century tibetan 5 deity mandala , in centre rakta yamari (the red enemy of death) embracing consort vajra vetali, in corners red, green white , yellow yamaris, rubin museum of art



sandpainting showing buddha mandala, made part of death rituals among buddhist newars of nepal


early , theravada buddhism

the mandala can found in form of stupa , in atanatiya sutta in digha nikaya, part of pali canon. text chanted. mandalas traditionally found in large amounts in buddhist monasteries on world. 1 can buy mandalas , thankas/pauva in places thamel.

vajrayana

in vajrayana buddhism, mandalas have been developed sandpainting. key part of anuttarayoga tantra meditation practices.

visualisation of vajrayana teachings

the mandala can shown represent in visual form core essence of vajrayana teachings. mind microcosm representing various divine powers @ work in universe. mandala represents nature of pure land, enlightened mind.

while on 1 hand, mandala regarded place separated , protected ever-changing , impure outer world of samsara, , seen buddhafield or place of nirvana , peace, view of vajrayana buddhism sees greatest protection samsara being power see samsaric confusion shadow of purity (which points towards it).

an example of type of mandala vajrabhairava mandala silk tapestry woven gilded paper depicting lavish elements crowns , jewelry, gives three-dimensional effect piece.

mount meru

a mandala can represent entire universe, traditionally depicted mount meru axis mundi in center, surrounded continents. 1 example cosmological mandala mount meru, silk tapestry yuan dynasty serves diagram of tibetan cosmology, given china nepal , tibet.

wisdom , impermanence

in mandala, outer circle of fire symbolises wisdom. ring of 8 charnel grounds represents buddhist exhortation mindful of death, , impermanence samsara suffused: such locations utilized in order confront , realize transient nature of life . described elsewhere: within flaming rainbow nimbus , encircled black ring of dorjes, major outer ring depicts 8 great charnel grounds, emphasize dangerous nature of human life . inside these rings lie walls of mandala palace itself, place populated deities , buddhas.

five buddhas

one well-known type of mandala mandala of 5 buddhas , archetypal buddha forms embodying various aspects of enlightenment. such buddhas depicted depending on school of buddhism, , specific purpose of mandala. common mandala of type of 5 wisdom buddhas (a.k.a. 5 jinas), buddhas vairocana, aksobhya, ratnasambhava, amitabha , amoghasiddhi. when paired mandala depicting 5 wisdom kings, forms mandala of 2 realms.

practice

tantric mandala of vajrayogini

mandalas commonly used tantric buddhists aid meditation.

the mandala support meditating person , repeatedly contemplated point of saturation, such image of mandala becomes internalised in minutest detail , can summoned , contemplated @ clear , vivid visualized image. every mandala comes tucci calls associated liturgy ... contained in texts known tantras , instructing practitioners on how mandala should drawn, built , visualised, , indicating mantras recited during ritual use.

by visualizing pure lands , 1 learns understand experience pure, , abode of enlightenment. protection need, in view, our own minds, as external sources of confusion. in many tantric mandalas, aspect of separation , protection outer samsaric world depicted 4 outer circles: purifying fire of wisdom, vajra circle, circle 8 tombs, lotus circle . ring of vajras forms connected fence-like arrangement running around perimeter of outer mandala circle.

as meditation on impermanence (a central teaching of buddhism), after days or weeks of creating intricate pattern of sand mandala, sand brushed pile , spilled body of running water spread blessings of mandala.

kværne in extended discussion of sahaja, discusses relationship of sadhana interiority , exteriority in relation mandala thus:

...external ritual , internal sadhana form indistinguishable whole, , unity finds pregnant expression in form of mandala, sacred enclosure consisting of concentric squares , circles drawn on ground , representing adamant plane of being on aspirant buddha hood wishes establish himself. unfolding of tantric ritual depends on mandala; , material mandala not employed, adept proceeds construct 1 mentally in course of meditation.

offerings

chenrezig sand mandala created @ house of commons of united kingdom on occasion of dalai lama s visit in may 2008

a mandala offering in tibetan buddhism symbolic offering of entire universe. every intricate detail of these mandalas fixed in tradition , has specific symbolic meanings, on more 1 level.

whereas above mandala represents pure surroundings of buddha, mandala represents universe. type of mandala used mandala-offerings, during 1 symbolically offers universe buddhas or 1 s teacher. within vajrayana practice, 100,000 of these mandala offerings (to create merit) can part of preliminary practices before student begins actual tantric practices. mandala structured according model of universe taught in buddhist classic text abhidharma-kośa, mount meru @ centre, surrounded continents, oceans , mountains, etc.

shingon buddhism

one japanese branch of mahayana buddhism—shingon buddhism—makes frequent use of mandalas in rituals well, though actual mandalas differ. when shingon s founder, kukai, returned training in china, brought 2 mandalas became central shingon ritual: mandala of womb realm , mandala of diamond realm.

these 2 mandalas engaged in abhiseka initiation rituals new shingon students, more commonly known kechien kanjō (結縁灌頂). common feature of ritual blindfold new initiate , have them throw flower upon either mandala. flower lands assists in determination of tutelary deity initiate should follow.

sand mandalas, found in tibetan buddhism, not practiced in shingon buddhism.

nichiren buddhism

the mandala in nichiren buddhism called moji-mandala (文字曼陀羅) , paper hanging scroll or wooden tablet inscription consists of chinese characters , medieval-sanskrit script representing elements of buddha s enlightenment, protective buddhist deities, , buddhist concepts. called gohonzon, inscribed nichiren, founder of branch of japanese buddhism, during late 13th century. gohonzon primary object of veneration in nichiren schools , 1 in others, consider supreme object of worship embodiment of supreme dharma , nichiren s inner enlightenment. 7 characters namu myōhō renge kyō, considered name of supreme dharma, invocation believers chant, written down center of nichiren-sect gohonzons, appearance may otherwise vary depending on particular school , other factors.

pure land buddhism

mandalas have been used in pure land buddhism graphically represent pure lands, based on descriptions found in larger sutra , contemplation sutra. famous mandala in japan taima mandala, dated approximately 763 ce. taima mandala based upon contemplation sutra, other similar mandalas have been made subsequently. unlike mandalas used in vajrayana buddhism, not used object of meditation or esoteric ritual. instead, provides visual representation of pure land texts, , used teaching aid.

also in jodo shinshu buddhism, shinran , descendant, rennyo, sought way create accessible objects of reverence lower-classes of japanese society. shinran designed mandala using hanging scroll, , words of nembutsu (南無阿彌陀佛) written vertically. style of mandala still used jodo shinshu buddhists in home altars, or butsudan.