Mandalas, my big passion!
Not the highly structured tibetan ones, those are rather too complicated, yet too defined with symbolism, for me.
I have been studying geometrical form within a circle, be it celtic, native indian, african, arabian, and I have been doing my own thing (
my tarot deck) - though I have been stagnant for a while now.
Only recently have I taken it up again, but nothing for my deck
- not yet in any case. But - the circle endlessly fascinates me
* * *
Back on the symbol, i guess we are talking about one of those buddhist ones though, like
this one.
They are full of symbolism, not one grain of sand in them that is there without a purpose. (
how they are done - look at those incredible details! - several pages of pics, worth it!!)
Each and every one of those symbols is incredibly ancient so here is where the ancient book comes in. To properly understand them, you need to delve deep into the history and culture of the Tibetans.
Now - understanding them... here's the catch. They are not really made to be understood, although that will help in the (relatively) short run. Relatively because of all the time it takes!
They are a means of meditation. Concentration, focus, purpose.
And very telltale: they are
blown away once they are finished, usually.
We peeps will say "WHAT??!! after all that painstaking work that has gone into those, they are simply destroyed??!!"
This is the point however, part of the meditation: to learn non-attachment, and to make for the sake of making, not for the glory of the ego. To create as if nothing else mattered, yet not to attach any much importance to it so you can let go of it imediately.
This man studying it is lucky: it is one of the preserved ones. Now it is HIS job to find out all that has gone into it...
