INSpiREzine Mandalas! | Page 17

SACRED ART

A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in both the Buddhist and Hindu traditions and can be understood as both a visual representation of the universe and as a spiritual guide for meditation. The belief is that by mindfully entering the mandala and proceeding towards its center, one is guided through a cosmic journey toward knowledge, wisdom, and happiness.

In the Buddhist tradition, the emphasis is on cultivating virtue on the Path to Enlightenment. Traditional mandalas of this sort are often associated with a symbolic palace.

In the center of the design lies the palace itself.

◉The palace has four gates, each representing the four quarters of the world (north, south, east, and west) and the four Brahma-Bihara or “sublime states” of Buddhism (sympathy, compassion, kindness, and equanimity).

◉ The palace is located at the center of countless layers of circles - amidst a protective barrier of sorts. The circular layers symbolizes the Bodhisattva perfections - the moral virtues of generosity, discipline, patience, wisdom, diligence, and meditation that one must attain before gaining access to the palace.

Inside the palace, there are symbols associated with different deities (a supernatural being or idea considered to be “divine” or “sacred”). For example, a thunderbolt, a bell, a wheel, and a diamond each respectively represent a man, a woman, the Buddhist Eightfold Path, and a clear mind.

In comparison, the Hindu tradition focuses on the realization of the self as one with the divine. Traditional mandalas of this type often hold reverence to a “power image”. In such cases, the main deity is placed in the center of the mandala and other deities are scattered around the central image.