Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva 南無大願地藏王菩薩

“If the Hell is not empty, I shall not attain Buddhahood”

The Great Vow of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds between the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha and the incoming of Maitreya the next future Buddha,

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in Tibetan word is "Sa Yi Nyingpo". In Sanskrit name is "Ksitigarbha". In Chinese name is "地藏王菩薩" with his great vow- “If the Hell is not empty, I shall not attain Buddhahood”. Having vowed not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied, his activity focuses more particularly on helping those who suffer in the hell realms.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has received great respect and trust from all since long ago. Not only did he point out to us a road to achieving Buddhahood, but he also lighted up for us a hope in Dharma. For these reasons, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is known as “The King of Great Vows”. 

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of the most wonderful dimensions of the Mahayana Tradition of Buddhist practice and teaching are the different manifestations of Buddha’s Qualities of compassion and wisdom. These emanate as different Buddha deities. The form, appearance, costumes, mudras, implements and jewellery of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva differ quite considerably under Mahayana & Tibetan Buddhism. 

Manifestation in Mahayana Buddhism 

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is typically depicted with a shaven head, dressed in a monk's simple robes (unlike most other bodhisattvas, who are dressed like Indian royalty). In his left hand, Ksitigarbha holds a cintamani; in his right hand, he holds a staff "錫杖" , which is used to alert insects and small animals of his approach, so that he will not accidentally harm them. He is often depicted as white in color, holding a staff in his right hand and a jewel that symbolizes wisdom in his left hand.

Manifestation in Tibetan Buddhism

Ksitigarbha is shown wearing a crown depicting the Five Dhyani Buddhas as worn by Tibetan and in Tantric rituals.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is revered as the protector of stillborn, miscarried and aborted babies. He is the protective deity of travelers and guardian of pregnant women. He protects against earthquakes; he prolongs life and is a guardian of children.

The practice and prayers 

His mantra in Mahayana is “南無大願地藏王菩薩”

His mantra in Sanskrit is “oṃ ha ha ha vismaye svāhā”

I prostate, go for Refuge, make offerings, please grant blessings. The Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, who has unbearable compassion for me and all sentient beings (whose minds are obscure and who are suffering), who has qualities like the sky and liberates sentient beings from all the sufferings and gives all the happiness. (Recite three times.)

Five Reasons for Being Born into Poverty according to the Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva:-

1. The first of these is arrogance, particularly toward one’s parents.
2. The second is obstinacy, that is, refusing to listen to teachers and elders.
3. The third is lack of diligence in honoring the Triple Gem.
4. The fourth is thievery.
5. The fifth reason for being born into poverty is accumulation of unpaid debts. Although money is false and empty, it cannot be used casually and wasted. To borrow money and not repay it, thinking that you have no obligation because money is of no true importance, will lead to rebirth as a servile and poor person.

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Pictures are intended for editorial use only.

The Tibetan Wealth Treasure Vase

The Tibetan wealth treasure vase, metaphorically, is the vase of inexhaustible treasures, which represents health, longevity, wealth and wisdom, and emphasizes the symbolic meaning of wealth and abundance. In Tibetan Buddhist paintings, the treasure vase is portrayed as a fat vase with a short, but slim neck.

The treasure vase In Tibetan word is "gter gyi bum pa" and in Sankirt is "nidhana kumbha". The Wealth Treasure Vase was introduced by a great Indian master, Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava  to Tibet. He gave specific instructions on how to create and what sacred items need to be put inside them. 

According to the text, the blessings, pacification and improved environment created by the Vases extends for 15 miles outward from the Vases location. By the sacred contents and rituals employed during its creation, the Treasure Vase has the power to magnetize wealth and abundance, improve health and healing, pacify anger , conflict, and increase wisdom and compassion. 

The Tibetan wealth treasure Vase is a fat bellied vessel with a short, slim neck. On top, at the opening, there is a large jewel indicating that it is a treasure vase. The tradition of the treasure vase is a very ancient one. The vases were very well known in Tibet for centuries, and many families had them. 

The Wealth Treasure Vase brings blessings to its possessor. The powers of the vase is concentrated in the building where it is placed, serving to increase the spiritual and material wealth of the residents.

Traditionally, the vase was considered to protect from the negative influences of both human and non-human beings. It protected from fears of life and death. It strengthened karmic connections so that the obstacles to material gain and prosperity were eliminated. It also improved the spiritual environment so worldly and transcendental accomplishment was more easily obtained. 

The Tibetan wealth treasure vase, provided material wealth and spiritual wealth; if one increased, the other did too. It is an axiom of Tibetan Buddhism that it’s good to fulfill your desires as long as you do not harm anyone else. Obtaining what you want brings a great deal of self knowledge. The Wealth Treasure Vase evokes the inexhaustible wealth within us all.

The Tibetan wealth treasure vases, sealed with precious and sacred substances, are commonly placed upon altars and on mountain passes, or buried at water springs, where their presence is believed to attract wealth and bring harmony to the environment. In relation to Buddhism it specifically means the spiritual abundance of the Buddha, a treasure that did not diminish, however much of it he gave away.

The Tibetan wealth treasure vases have been carefully prepared, sealed and consecrated through prayers and empowerment rituals to invoke the blessings of all the manifestations of the Buddhas and Yidam deities and the vitality of the elements. Consecrated treasure vases bring balance, healing and abundance to the outer world and the inner world.

The inner world refers to (flesh, blood, heat, breath and mind). The outer world is refers to (earth, water, fire, air, space) that are imbalanced, disturbed or depleted by environmental pollutants. Within the areas surrounding the vase, direct experiences of well being will occur.

Traditionally, Tibetan wealth treasure vases are given on auspicious occasions such as births, weddings, housewarmings or new ventures in business premises, consecrated vases can be placed in homes or business to help balance the energy, bring good fortune, bless the residents through spiritual and physical well-being (health and long life) by removing negative energy and obstacles for prosperity and spiritual attainment (improving spiritual practice & virtuous activities), and contribute to the positive energy of the world.

Benefits of Offering the Tibetan wealth treasure vase

1) For yourself – You will have the ability to make regular offerings and donations and grow your secular wealth. You will progress smoothly in your career, your fortune will improve and your virtuous karma will ripen earlier. (Place the wealth vase on the altar or at a high and clean place.)

2) For your family – Your family will enjoy good health, long life, harmony and increasing wealth. Evil and obstructing spirits will be removed, and burglary, illnesses and sufferings averted. Your family will enjoy peace and happiness. (Place the wealth vase on the shrine or in a safe.)

3) For landlords/farmers – The essence of the earth will increase and the crops will grow in abundance. (Place the wealth vase, two feet under the ground within the farmland.)

4) For the environment – Increase the essence of heaven and earth, obtain the protection of the mountain and earth deities, prevent natural disasters, avert attacks of rare diseases and diminish the chances of traffic accidents, thereby bringing peace and tranquility to the area. (Place the wealth vase, two feet under the ground.)

5) For places without the Buddha-Dharma – Minds will naturally become virtuous; merits will be diligently accumulated, and evil forces and demons will be subdued. (Place the wealth vase in a clean and secluded place.)

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Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?  

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in the year 2008, we had been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 13 years.  We have exceptionally constrained supports and do not receive subsidized or funding from people in general. 

Please help us and to develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you, but to all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us to enhance our work and to accomplish for a better and brighter prospect to come. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of the picture(s).

Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Picture(s) is/are intended for editorial use only.

What is Tibetan Tormas?

Torma in Sanskrit word is called " Balingta"  and Tormas are offering cakes and symbolize the food offering to the Buddhas, Deities.  Originally made of dough, in Tibet, it roasted barley flour is used, and also sculpted from butter, they have evolved into elaborately decorated objects.  

Since making them is time-consuming, people have begun to use clay, wood and more recently, synthetic substances. Tormas are used not only in Vajrayana, but also during the Buddha Shakyamuni times. 

Legend has it, in the past in India, one day Ananda was in the forest in Kapilavastu. As he was contemplating the Dharma, before him low down in the sky appeared a *Preta with fire blazing from its mouth, terrifying to look at. It said to Ananda, " In seven days time you will die," Upon hearing this, Ananda was filled with fear and then told the Buddha what had happened. 

*Footnote
Preta is the Sanskrit name for a hungry ghost being described in Hinduism, Buddhism as undergoing suffering greater than that of humans, particularly an extreme level of hunger and thirst.

Buddha Shakyamuni then taught a majestic Dharani mantra and immeasurable Torma offering and by offering that Torma, Ananda was freed from the terror of untimely death and attained many excellent qualities.

The Essence of Tormas

Tormas are in essence the identity of indivisible basic space and wisdom

The Etymology of Tormas

Guru Rinpoche once said:-

Since they do not hold, but cast away, they are called "Tor" and since they pervade everything, they are called "Ma"

In that way, because they are given free of grasping and attachment they are described as "Tor" which means to scatter and disperse, and because they appear in front of all guests as they are described as "Ma".

The Different Types of Guests

How many types of guests, or recipients of Tormas are there? The different types of guests can be condensed into the objects of homage and objects of generosity. To be more detailed, there are four types of guests:-

1. The guests of honor, the objects of refuge
2. The guests of qualities, the glorious protectors
3. The guests of compassion, beings of the six classes
4. The guests of karmic debts, negative spirits

1-Tormas are dedicated to the guests of honor in the way that you would pay your taxes to the King.In that way, one gathers vast accumulations and protected by their compassion.

2-Tormas are dedicated to the guests of qualities in the way that you would give a present to a friend or equal standing.In that way, beneficial activities are accomplished and obstacles are prevented.

3-Tormas are dedicated to the guests of compassion as a feast or banquet.In that way, one accomplishes the benefit of others and thereby becomes a follower of the great vehicle.

4-Tormas are dedicated to the guests of karmic debts, negative spirits like paying back a debt. In that way, grudges are purified and future negative and harm is averted.

Tormas have different uses. Some are created and placed on shrines for ceremonies or to represent deities. Others are used in feast practice and consumed by practitioners during the practice. Others are made to appease spirits, accumulate merit, or remove obstacles. The Tormas are mostly made of barley flour and butter, but traditionally other ingredients such as egg, milk, sugar, honey, and even meat may be included depending upon the purpose of the Torma.

There Are 6 Different Types of Tormas
1) Deity Tormas are kept in the shrine, and represent a particular tantra deity. These Tormas vary in complexity from a very simple cone painted white for peaceful deities like Buddha, Tara and Avalokiteshvara, to very complex designs for semi-wrathful deities like Vajrayogini.

2) Food Tormas are used in feast practices and are consumed partially by practitioners during the feast, with leftovers offered to lower beings after being blessed. In some traditions, food Tormas are now made with more contemporary ingredients, whereas others stay faithful to the barley flour tradition.

3) Offering Tormas may be made for and offered to deities and Dharma Protectors, to obstruct spirits, or to other lower beings. Torma for obstructing spirits are called "Gektor".

4) Medicine Tormas may be used in Tibetan medicine to extract an illness from a patient as a cure. The torma is then cast away.

5) Captured Tormas may be used to speed completion of activities, by planning to offer the torma at the completion of the activity thereby encouraging successful activity.

6) Inner and secret Tormas are for practicing meditation with deity visualization is considered a form of Torma offering, though no physical Torma is created and then offered. Similarly, offering one's internal emotional and mental experiences and experiences of non-physical forms of Torma offerings.

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?  

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in the year 2008, we had been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 10 years.  We have exceptionally constrained supports and do not receive subsidized or funding from people in general. 

Please help us and to develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you, but to all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us to enhance our work and to accomplish for a better and brighter prospect to come. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.
Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios. Pictures are intended for editorial use only.

The Tibetan Sacred Lama Dance

In Tibet, the first instance of ritual dance occurred when the King Trisong Deutsen invited Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava and Abbot Shantarakshita from India and they built the glorious temple Samye Migyur Lhungyidrubpe Tsuklhag Khang  and translated many secret mantra tantras in Tibet. 

During Guru Rinpoche was consecrating the glorious temple Samye, he performed the majestic vajra stance as described in the tantras. This was the very first the ritual dance (cham dances) was created by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century in Tibet. The original purpose was to remove or destroy the obstacles to the development of Buddhism.

The face masks in Tibetan word is "zhal bag" literally means "likeness of a face" are made in the likeness of the individual deities and worn by the dancers on their faces.

One's outlook when performing a ritual Cham dance, it is taught that when performing ritual dance, you should discard all notions of your ordinary self and assume the divine pride of the deity whose dance you are performing. 

Different Type of Ritual Cham Dance

The majority can be subsumed within three categories. it is peaceful, wrathful, and semi-peaceful semi-wrathful.

Musical Instruments Accompanying The Dance
The main instruments played to accompany the dances are the cymbals and drum, the long horn, the gyaling (Tibetan oboe), kangling (short horn), the white conch, the hand drum, bell, the silnyen (another type of of cymbal) and the damaru, amongst others. Dancing is rather slow, performed to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, and sometimes they are joined by trumpet and singing of the Lama.

The Colors of the costumes

The colors vary according to the color of the deity being danced or performed. For example, they may be white, yellow, red, blue,and so on corresponding to the color of the deity and whether the deities are peaceful, magnetizing, wrathful. 

The Benefits of Ritual Cham Dance explained in the Tantra
The dance postures, ritual dances, and their many poses.
Should be performed in accord with one's practice and following the texts.
Thereby, the blessings will descend, the mamos and Dakinis will be gathered and influence, wealth, and prosperity. health will increase. 

There are many countless benefits to watch the ritual dances.When such ritual dances are being performed at monasteries on special days and occasions,we should go to watch them not for entertainment or fun, but with sincere faith,devotion and right motivation and pure perception. By doing so, it is taught that your temporary and ultimate illnesses, negative influences, and obstacles will be appeased, and you will have a good health, long life, and fulfillment of your wishes and aims. 

In the dance the Protectors cut through any obstacles in the coming year, which means clearing away of all the negativities and obstructive forces accumulated over the passing year setting the tone for the coming year to begin a new - with purity, auspiciousness and joy. 

A Lama Dance exhibits a mandala of Guru Rinpoche with the blessings from the lineage, it is also called a approach of "See and Enlightened". 

Tibetan Buddhist religious dance, performed by masked dancers enacting various religious dramas depicting subjects such as the subjugation of demons. The performance takes a few hours and consists of four parts: pacification and neutralization, subjugating and destruction:-

1) Pacification is the effectuations of the obstacles into one’s presence. 

2) Neutralization is the process of offering to the obstacles so that they have a substitute for their aggression. 

3) Subjugating is threatening the obstacles with destruction should they not obey, represented in the dancing by displaying a series of weapons. 

4) Destruction culminates in shooting an arrow of fire into a large torma that contains all obstacles. 

Dancing is rather slow, performed to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, and sometimes they are joined by trumpet and singing of the Lama.

All dancers are in bright costumes and masks that represent different deities and animals. Costumes for ritual dances are usually sewn from brocade and silk. Wide sleeves of the dresses are shaped like a quiver which symbolizes that the gods concealed a bow and arrows inside the sleeves and at any time will be able to hit enemies.

Today, Lama Dance still has the same purpose. The Lama Dances usually are performed once a year on the 28th & 29th of the last month of the year, before Losar - the Kalachakra Calendar new year, (according to Tibetan lunar calendar). 

There are two days of dancing, the first in elaborate robes, the second in full mask and ornate costume and there is another special Lama dance of Guru Rinpoche which is performed on the June 10 of Tibetan lunar calendar.

Tibetan calendar is available, please click here 
Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.
Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.
Pictures are intended for editorial use only.

The golden wheel and a pair of deer

Dharma wheel or "kore-low" in the Tibetan word. The golden wheel or Dharma wheel symbolizes the auspiciousness of the turning of the precious wheel of Buddha's doctrine, both in its teachings and realizations, in all realms and at all times, enabling beings to experience the joy of wholesome deeds and liberation.

This golden wheel is also called the Dharma chakra or the Dhamma chakka and is often used to represent Buddha himself. It has also universally become the symbol for Buddhism. The Dharma wheel has eight spokes, which represent Buddha’s Eightfold Path. 

The Golden Dharma Wheel With A Pair of Deer

As Buddhists, when visiting a monastery, the first thing we see is a pair of male and female deer at either side of an eight-spokes Dharma wheel at then highest point of the monastery root.

Regarding the essential meaning of the Dharma wheel, from a historical perspective it is said to have been offered in the form of a thousand-spoke wheel to Buddha Shakyamuni by heavenly god Brahma when requesting Buddha to teach the sacred Dharma. 

At that moment, from the forest came a pair of male and female deer, the deer is also commonly known as the "krishnasara antelope" of compassion. With unblinking gaze, the pair of deer looked at the wheel with joy and delight and subsequently, Shakyamuni Buddha related the noble eightfold path with the wheel.

Likewise, the Buddha related the male and female beings whose mind streams are touched by the path with the pair of deer. Ever since then, the golden Dharma wheel flanked by a pair of deer has been a special symbol for Buddhists.

The symbolism of the deer

The male (on the right) and female (on the left) deer represent both male and female disciples who one-pointedly enjoy and take pleasure in listening to the teachings of the sacred Dharma. The pair of deer represent skillful means and wisdom, Buddha hood can be attained.

The symbolism of the Dharma wheel

The eight-spokes wheel represents the first turning of the Dharma wheel by the Buddha Shakyamuni.The interior eight-spokes Dharma wheel represent the moral conduct of discipline from among the Three Trainings. The intermediate eight-spokes represent the training in wisdom and the noble eightfold path.

The outer eight-spokes Dharma wheel represent the training in samadhi or meditative concentration stage. The entirely of the Buddha's teachings are contained within the Three Trainings and noble eightfold path.

In brief, just as all the world's different religions and countries have their own symbols and insignia, the Dharma wheel with the pair of deer is the sign of Buddhism. Furthermore, this symbol was also the seal of the glorious Buddhist University of Nalanda in India long ago.

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Pictures are intended for editorial use only.

The Flowers offerings

I pray to the Buddha with these flowers;

May this virtue be helpful for my emancipation;

Just as these flowers fade,

Our body will undergo decay.

In Buddhism, symbolic offerings are made to the Triple Gem, giving rise to contemplative gratitude and inspiration. The type of material offerings involve simple objects such as a lit candle or oil lamp, burning incense, flowers, food, fruit, water. 

Why we give offerings to the Enlightened ones -The Buddhas?

The  Buddhas and the Enlightened beings they do not requiring these kind of offerings. We make these offerings is for accumulation of merits and wisdoms, enlightenment, Buddha hood, is achieved through these great qualities - accumulation and purification. As we knew the Buddhas had limitless of qualities which were attained through these two mentioned qualities.

From the traditional of Buddhist framework of karma and rebirth, offerings also lead us to a better rebirth in the cycle of birth and death and progress towards release from suffering. We are offering the best of something or something affordable to the enlightened ones,  so that we can one day, aspire to attain liberation like the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas.

The act of offering is an act of Dana. An act of generosity to the:-

1. Buddha himself – the Perfectly Enlightened One. 
2. To the Dharma – the Truth. 
3. To the Noble Enlightened Ones-the Great Compassion of Bodhisattvas.

In the Vajrayana and Mahayana traditions, flower offerings might be imbued with the following indications:-

Flowers are the most beautiful things in the world, we are offering the most beautiful things in the world to the Buddhas. When they fade, it is also a reminder those things of the world also fade,   it has reminded us of the teaching that “Whatever is of the nature to arise is also of the nature to cease”.  

Flowers represents the aspiration to achieve the body of the Buddha with the thirty-two marks of the Buddha as well as the teaching of impermanence.

From the sutra Distinguishing the Aspects of Karma (Lanam Je): There are ten benefits of offering flowers to the Buddhas, statues, stupas, scriptures, holy places and monastery. 

1. One becomes like a flower in the world. (You will be very beautiful; everyone will be attracted and amazed to look at you and will remember seeing you.)
2. The sense of smell will never degenerate. (Some people have sicknesses in the nose so that the sense of smell doesn’t function.)
3. One will never have bad body odor. (This will be completely purified.)
4. A smell of scented nectar will come from the body.
5. The smell of the morality of the person will spread in all directions and corners.
6. One will be a leader of the world. (One will be a leader of people, of the world, of holy beings.)
7. One will achieve beautiful attractive things.
8. One will have great wealth.
9. One will be reborn in a higher rebirth.
10. One will quickly achieve the sorrow less state and achieve enlightenment, the great liberation.

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Pictures are intended for editorial use only.

The Sacred Universe of The Buddhas - Mandala

Mandalas in Tibet, within the tradition of Tantric Buddhism, are sacred geometric figures that represent the Universe according to the Vajrayana Buddhism. Mandalas have complex geometrical shapes and it has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically. 

The Mandala is also a part of Hindu Tantrism and in other traditions like North American Indians, but this article will only focus on the Buddhist Mandala. 

Mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning "circle." Even though it may be dominated by squares or triangles, a Mandala has a concentric structure. Mandalas are far more than geometrical figures, however. For Tantric Buddhists, they are rich with symbolism and sacred meaning. In fact, the etymology of the word "Mandala" suggests not just a circle, but a "container of essence."

A Mandala becomes a sacred area that serves for deities and a collection point of universal forces. By mentally entering a Mandala and proceeding to its center, a person is symbolically guided through the cosmos to the essence of reality.

In Tibetan Buddhism, contemplation of sacred images is central to religious ritual, and a Mandala is one of the most important of these sacred images. A Tibetan Mandala is usually made with careful placement of colored sand, and accordingly is known in Tibetan as "dul-tson-kyil-khor", or Mandala of the colored powders. 

The symbolism of the Mandala  in the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, Mandalas are rich with symbolism that evokes various aspects of Buddhist teaching. This is part of what makes the creation of a Mandala a sacred act, for as they work, the monks are imparting the Buddha's teachings. In the Tibetan Buddhism, Mandalas have been developed into a sand painting. They are also a key part of * Anuttarayoga Tantra meditation practice. 

* Anuttarayoga Tantra or Highest Yoga Tantra is a term used in Tibetan Buddhism.  In accordance with the three lineages of Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug of Tibetan Buddhism, Anuttarayoga Tantra is the highest of four classes and is associated with the route to enlightenment.  

Nyingma tradition and the teachings of Dzongchen or the Great perfection is the Highest Tantra. Nyingma lineage is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and founded by the great Indian master of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava who came to Tibet in the eighth century C.E.

Footnote

The practice of Anuttarayoga Tantra in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism is characterized by the requirement of empowerment from a qualified Guru, Lama, use of ritual techniques, and the practice of various meditative and subtle body yogas, to effect personal transformation and to attain enlightenment through the realization of the mind stream as a Meditational Deity, or a Yidam. Mandalas have complex geometrical shapes and are often used for meditation. 
For more teachings of the Tantra, please visit and click here

Construction of the sacred Mandala

The basic form of most Mandala is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a "T".  The process of constructing a Mandala is a sacred ritual. It is a meditative, painstaking process that can take days or even weeks to complete. Before a monk may participate in the construction of a Mandala, he must undergo a lengthy period of artistic and philosophical study. 

Commonly , there are four monks are working together to construct a Mandala. The mandala is divided into quadrants with one monk assigned to each. Midway through the process, each monk receives an assistant who helps fill in the colors while the primary monk continues to work on detailed outlines.

Mandalas are constructed from the center outward, beginning with a dot in the center. With the placement of the center dot, the mandala is consecrated to a particular Buddha or Deity. This Buddha or Deity will usually be depicted in an image over the center dot, although some Mandalas are purely geometric.

The symbolizes of the sacred Mandala
Lines are then drawn through the center dot to the four corners, creating triangular geometric patterns. These lines are then used to construct a square "palace" with four gates. The monks usually keep to their own quadrant at this point.

From the inner square, the monks move outward in a series of concentric circles. Here the monks work in tandem, moving all around the mandala. They wait until each section is entirely completed before moving outward together. This ensures that balance is always maintained.

Outside the square temple is several concentric circles. The outermost circle is usually decorated with stylized scroll work resembling a ring of fire. This ring of fire symbolizes the process of transformation humans must undergo before being able to enter the sacred territory within. It both bars the uninitiated and symbolizes the burning of ignorance.

The next circle inward is a ring of thunderbolt or diamond scepters, which stands for indestructibility and illumination. This is followed by a circle of eight graveyards, representing the eight aspects of human consciousness that bind a person to the cycle of rebirth. Finally, the innermost ring is made of lotus leaves, signifying religious rebirth.

The Five Dhyani Buddhas Mandala

The square structure in the middle of a mandala is a palace for the resident deities and a temple containing the essence of the Buddha. The square temple's four elaborate gates symbolize a variety of ideas, including:
- The four boundless thoughts: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathy and equanimity

- The four directions: south, north, east and west

Within the square palace or temple are images of deities, which are usually the * Five Dhyani Buddhas (the Great Buddhas of Wisdom). The iconography of these Buddhas are rich in symbolism in itself. Each of the Five Dyani Buddhas represents a direction (center, south, north, east and west), cosmic element (like form and consciousness), earthly element (ether, air, water, earth and fire), and a particular type of wisdom. 

Each Buddha is empowered to overcome a particular evil, such as ignorance, envy or hatred. The Five Dyani Buddhas are generally identical in appearance, but are each represented iconography with a particular color, mudra (hand gesture), and animal. See the article on the Five Dyani Buddhas for more information.


In the center of the mandala is an image of the chief Buddha or Deity, who is placed over the center dot described above. Because it has no dimensions, the center dot represents the seed or the center of the universe. 

*For more detailed of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, please visit our article as follows:-
http://max-tibetanbuddhism.blogspot.my/search?q=Dhyani+Buddhas+

The Destruction of The San Mandala

Although some Mandalas are painted and serve as an enduring object of contemplation, the traditional Tibetan sand Mandala, when completed, is deliberately destroyed. The destruction of a sand mandala is also highly ceremonial. Even the Deity syllables are removed in a specific order along with the rest of the geometry until at last the mandala has been dismantled. 

The sand is collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature. This symbolizes the ephemerality of life and the world.

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