printable mandalas

The mandala can be shown to represent in visual form the core essence of the Vajrayana teachings. In the mandala, the outer circle of fire usually symbolises wisdom. The ring of 8 charnel grounds probably represent the Buddhist exhortation to always be mindful of death and impermanence with which samsara is suffused: "such locations were utilized in order to confront and to realize the transient nature of life. Described elsewhere thus: "within a flaming rainbow nimbus and encircled by a black ring of dorjes, the major outer ring depicts the eight great charnel grounds, to emphasize the dangerous nature of human life. Inside these rings lie the walls of the mandala palace itself, specifically a place populated by deities and Buddhas. In the West, mandala is also used to refer to the "personal world" in which one lives, the various elements of the mandala or the activities and interests in which one engages, the most important being at the centre of the mandala and the least important at the periphery. Depicting one's personal mandala in pictorial form can give one a good indication of the state of one's spiritual life.



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You've heard of using mandalas for meditation. Coloring mandalas is also a therapeutic practice. By coloring mandalas, we allow ourselves to play. By playing, we open up a broad range of creative and intuitive processes that we don't normally experience in our day-to-day lives. It is play that will always open up our spirit, and facilitate a connection to our higher understanding and purpose. By coloring or painting these powerful symbols, we also become a part of the circle, which involves us in the cyclical nature of our bodies, our lives, our thoughts, our emotions, just about everything. The act of mandala coloring draws us into the very circle of life. Further, this artistic activity is like speaking a language. Our bodies and our minds connect and engage in a process that allows for our entire nervous system to explore new realms of identity. Performing this necessary and artistic function with a mandala further encourages our souls to sing as our spiritual and physical nature come chime in with harmony.


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Every grain of sand has its place in a mandala. The monks make sure of that. But in the end, what looks like a painting is actually a Buddhist ritual. Precisely placed grains of sand are slowly being added to the "Wheel of Time" mandala -- the Kalachakra mandala -- in the lobby of the Bell Memorial Union at Chico State University. It is a blessing to bring peace and healing to viewers and the environment.The art dates back 2,600 years and is preserved in the monasteries of India and Tibet.



http://www.mandala-arts.com