The Mandala Tree of Life - Free Essay Example

Human life source

The Mandala tree is a very important symbol in the East, in which religions it is used to represent eternity, luck, security and good fortunes from Mother Nature. Being the equivalent of the Christian tree of life, sometimes the Mandala tree is said to be the source of human life, and is associated with mother earth. All the parts of the tree are used to represent a part of human life, such as productivity, success, balance and other positive representations.

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Mandalas for the Soul, (n.d.) The Meaning of Mandalas. Tree Mandala,

According to Mandalas for the Soul, Mandala means circle, which is a very important shape in Buddha and Hindu. It represents the spiritual universe whereby life undergoes an unending circle of growth and development, from birth to death, and reincarnation. The circle in Buddha represents the most beautiful and pure form of beauty and life.

The article also tackles using Mandalas in life to help counter the destructive forces around man, which has also brought out a field of Mandala commerce, with artists making jewelry that are used by Mandala loyalists. The types of Mandalas, as explained by this article, include the Lotus Mandala which represents enlightenment, the Sand Mandala that stands for temporal nature of life events, the Flower Mandala standing for unfolding the beauty of life and the Sun Mandala represents purity and transformation.

What is the tree of life by Umar Nair. A modern day Mandala

The article talks of the evolution of Mandala practices, especially in cities such as New York, which have grown to become centers of cultures, with diverse cultures meting there and interacting to produce a great diversity. Such practices as the use of Mandala figures or tattoos, and the Mandala art being showcased to wide groups of culture tourists are only possible now in the current modern world.

The author also talks about the attractiveness of the various symbols used such as Kohli's multiple women and goddesses in the dhyanasana posture, which helps viewers to get into close contact with the paining and experience the integral spirit expressed in them in the best way possible. His article talks of the tree of life that seems to glorify women, and invites New Yorkers to experience the sensibility of the symbolism in closer detail.

Mandalas meaning for life

Alchemy of Love (n.d.) Mandala Meaning. Symbols and Signs.

In this article, the website traces the use of the Mandala not only in Buddha followers, but also in other parts of the world, by different religions. This is explained as, because the circle that symbolizes divinity, wholesomeness and infinity in many of the world cultures, the Mandala is a shape used by numerous religious groups in the world.

Some of the people mentioned as using the Mandala in the form of the medicine wheel are the Native American Indians. They used the wheel for healing, whereby it would exist as artwork or in the architecture. The quadrate is closely related with the medicine wheel; North, South, East and West, Fire, Earth, Water and Air to mention just a few.

In the Aztec culture, their calendar is organized as a Mandala, comprising of two intersecting wheels. The revolution of either wheel marks the passage of time, and also marks important day-signs that connect it to divinity.

Other parts where the Mandala symbology was used includes Tibet, where it was used to represent the temporal nature of life.

Exotic India by Nitin Kumar. Mandala Sacred Geometry in Buddhist Art

Nitin explains the Mandala as the most discussed and admired symbol of Buddha, including the adaptation of the word into other languages such as English, unlike other words of Buddha. In this article, he evaluates the evolution of the symbol, an the meanings attached to it, growing over time alongside the religion of Buddha. The word is explained to have started as a collection of mantras or hymns that were chanted in Vedic rituals. With the universe said to come from these hymns, it is no surprise that the word gradually gained the sense of the round, or circle.

The author further explains the roots of the word, which break down to mean the container of essence, with the image being symbolic of the body and mind of the Buddha. It is often presented as wheel and put to various uses, a tree or a jewel that may likewise be applied in varied decorations.

How to draw mandalas

The article also explains the artistic creation of the Mandala, whose construction begins with the dot, which acts a center from which energies are drawn outwards. As the line materializes out of the dots, they intersect to create patterns, with the dot as its center and coming from four directions, which create the notion of essence. Artists who were allowed to make the Mandala first had to undergo a rigorous training period in order to internalize all the essence of this important symbol.

The extreme degree of care given is due to the high regard in which this symbol is held by the Buddhist, thus its construction must be done in the most sacred way possible. With strict adherence to the scriptures, the Mandala is considered a full-blown religious symbol for Buddha.

From the foregoing, it is clear to see the significance of the Mandala as a symbol for Buddha worship. Holding the significance of the tree of life to a religion such as Christianity, it is most probably the reason it is also referred to as the Mandala tree of life. The word itself has evolved through the ages, from a simple word referencing rhythm and hymns, to take on a deeper meaning that transcends the ages to modernity. The significance of the shape in religion cannot be downplayed too, with artwork featuring the symbol being among the most popular in Hindu and Buddha.

References

Mandalas for the Soul, (n.d.) The Meaning of Mandalas. Tree Mandala,

Umar Nair, (2011). The tree of life: A modern day Mandala. The Economic Times

Alchemy of Love (n.d.) Mandala Meaning. Symbols and Signs.

Nitin Kumar (2000). Mandala t Sacred Geometry in Buddhist Art. Exotic India