Perhaps the most admired and discussed symbol
of Buddhist religion and art is the mandala. In
practice, mandala has become a generic term for
any plan, chart or geometric pattern that
represents the cosmos metaphysically or
symbolically, a microcosm of the Universe from
the human perspective. The mandala is an
imaginary palace that is contemplated during
meditation. Each object in the palace has
significance, representing some aspect of
wisdom or reminding the meditator of some
guiding principle.
In esoteric Buddhism, the principle in the
mandala is the presence of the Buddha in it, but
images of deities are not necessary. They may be
presented as a wheel, a tree, or a jewel, or in any
other symbolic manifestation.
Here the mandala is illustrated as a palace with
four gates, facing the four corners of the Earth.
In the centre is a lotus blossom with eight petals,
resting on a bed of jewels. The symbol of the
Buddha lives in the centre, surrounded by eight
Buddhas for meditation � symbolic deities: four
male and four female. These figures, facing the
corners of the earth (West, Northwest, North,
Northeast, East, Southeast, South and Southwest)
form together a lotus flower. In the next place
are the walls of the palace with gates towards
the four corners of the Earth. The rich palette of
this mandala is dominated by red and yellow.
The preparation of a mandala is an artistic
endeavour, but at the same time it is an act of
worship. In this form of worship concepts and
form are created in which the deepest intuitions
are crystallized and expressed as spiritual art.
The design, which is usually meditated upon, is a
continuum of spatial experiences.
The visualization and concretization of the
mandala concept is one of the most significant
contributions of Buddhism to religious
psychology. Mandalas are seen as sacred places
which, by their presence in the world, remind the
viewer of the sanctity in the
universe and its potential in himself. In the
context of the Buddhist path, the purpose of a
mandala is to put an end to human suffering, to
attain enlightenment and to attain a correct view
of Reality.
