MANDALAMANDALACChenrezig -- Buddha of Compassionhenrezig -- Buddha of Compassion

1 of 324 Tibetan Buddhism Mandalas

“Om mani padme hum” -- “Hail to the jewel of the lotus”

Tibetan Buddhism - MandalaTibetan Buddhism - Mandala

• MandalaMandala– Made from finely ground and dyed marble.Made from finely ground and dyed marble.– Is transitory, comes from nothingness and goes Is transitory, comes from nothingness and goes

back to nothingness, but is empowered through back to nothingness, but is empowered through its creation and on dismantling releases that its creation and on dismantling releases that empowerment to the world and universe.empowerment to the world and universe.

– It is a two-dimensional portrait of a four-It is a two-dimensional portrait of a four-dimensional world (spirit is fourth).dimensional world (spirit is fourth).

– Takes about a week to complete.Takes about a week to complete.– There are 324 mandala designs in Tibetan There are 324 mandala designs in Tibetan

Buddhism. Some are seldom seen by anyone Buddhism. Some are seldom seen by anyone but a few lamas and rarely created.but a few lamas and rarely created.

Mandala on 4Mandala on 4thth day day

•Longmont Buddhist Temple (Japanese Buddhism) and the Drukpa Mila Center (Tibetan Buddhism) cooperated on this mandala ceremony.

•There had been a previous opening ceremony to prepare the space in a sacred manner.

• Longmont and Bhutan lamas participated in the creation of the mandala. Longmont Buddhist Temple

Mandala for Buddha of Mandala for Buddha of CompassionCompassion

(five to seven days of work by lamas)(five to seven days of work by lamas)

Photos only with prior approval as the photos themselves contain the spiritual power and energy of the mandela.

• The Vajabhairava is a fairly simple mandala.• It containing a mere thirteen deities. • Many mandalas contain hundreds. • It is delicate, some lines are needle thin. • We see the two dimensions. • They see three.• The deities come to reside in the temple.

The Vajabhairava Mandala

created by Pema Losang Chogyen in 1991 at Cornell University

Kingdom of BhutanKingdom of BhutanLamaistic Buddhist (75%), Indian and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism Lamaistic Buddhist (75%), Indian and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism

(25%)(25%) • Landlocked, 18,147 sq. miles.Landlocked, 18,147 sq. miles.• Population 2, 232,300.Population 2, 232,300.• Altitude range 318 ft to 24, 738.Altitude range 318 ft to 24, 738.

Dismantling CeremonyDismantling Ceremony• Ceremony is public.

• Mandala is now in raised position of honor.

• Lama Karma Namgyel (Japanese) and Lama Kezang Dorjee (Bhutan) conducted the ceremony.

• Chanting and reading of sacred text preceded the dismantling ceremony.

• Buddha of Compassion and other deities are reside in the mandala empowering it.

Mandala dismantled into two partsMandala dismantled into two parts

Sectioned into eighths Pushed to

center

Preparing to divide ½ into yellow cloth

Sharing of the MandalaSharing of the Mandala

• Not all mandalas have a Not all mandalas have a sharing of the sand with sharing of the sand with the participants.the participants.

• Small bags are handed out Small bags are handed out to those who want them.to those who want them.

• Suggested uses are Suggested uses are sprinkled in rooms, put on sprinkled in rooms, put on head of ill or dying person.head of ill or dying person.

• Should always be treated Should always be treated with reverence as it has with reverence as it has been empowered. been empowered.

• You could also receive a You could also receive a chord of protection.chord of protection.

Mandala Ceremony at Mandala Ceremony at PagodaPagoda

5-tier Pagoda - Park

Burning of incense

Meditation Walk Procession to the River

Mandala River CeremonyMandala River Ceremony

• Symbolic pouring of several goblets of wine and rice into the river.

• Lamas prepare to pour empowered mandala sand into river to end ceremony.

• The lama from Bhutan is the one who will do the actual pouring.

• The sand is in yellow cloth, and a white silk cloth is added to the ceremony.

Mandala Ceremony Mandala Ceremony CompletedCompleted

The mandala had come from nothingness, had become spiritually empowered, and returns to nothingness but carries that empowerment via this small river to the oceans and the world and universe. In this case, compassion.

Celebration upon Conclusion of the Celebration upon Conclusion of the CeremonyCeremony

LAMA DANCELAMA DANCE

Lama – Longmont Temple

Tibetan (in Tibet) Lama Dance

Lama dance is traditional movements and brings luck to all who view it

End of Slide ShowEnd of Slide Show

© Dr. Cherry Emerson, 2007