Maha Tare Buddhist Centre and its members express great delight in organising the creation of the Avalokiteshvara Sand Mandala for this coming Vesak Day @ Fortune Centre under the supervision of Geshe Lama Konchok and revered Tantric masters of Ngakrampa Geshe positions from Gyudmey Tantric Monastery in India. It is hoped that this meritorious event will bring much positivity, joy, and contentment.
Location: Fortune Centre – 190 Middle Road (S)188979 – Level one beside the escalator.
Time: 9am to 5pm
Creation: 16 May 2016 (Mon) to 20 May 2016 (Fri)
Vesak Day: 21 May 2016 (Sat)
Dissolution: 22 May 2016 (Sun)
Avalokiteshvara Sand Mandala
Mandala (Lit. circular realm) is basically a representational blueprint of the celestial abode of Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig; Ch. Guanyin), the Buddhist deity of compassion. In higher Tantric practices, it serves as a power meditative tool used for cultivation of compassion, which is basically a mind that genuinely aspires to achieve enlightenment in order to save all sentient beings from pain, suffering and dissatisfactions.
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
For centuries, Buddhists across the Mahayana belt of the Asian subcontinent have worshipped Avalokiteshvara in its varied forms, from a humanely two-armed form to a supramundane one-thousand armed image to one living the life as a disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni, and further to a valorous lion-riding deity. In all its varied forms, Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva who has vowed to strive for enlightenment for the sole wellbeing of countless sentient beings, embodies one of the most essential universal qualities—compassion. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is invoked by millions of Buddhists through life-long chanting of the six-syllable mantra Om mani padme hum (homage to the [holder of] jewel-lotus!) and other invocative prayers and incantations. He is one of the prominent Bodhisattvas to take significant role in various sutras including the Wisdom Sutras and Lotus Sutra.
Significance of Mandala in Buddhist Tantric Rituals
Mandala, literally meaning “circular realm”, is a two-dimensional model that seeks to represent the pure land or celestial abode of any one or more deities. In higher Tantra, mandala serves as an important tool for guiding practitioner through multi-level stages of offering rituals, initiations, and meditations, where colors and shapes of Tantric motifs and images bear power Tantric signification. When decoded, the diagram provides a very complex yet systematic process that guides a devout aspirant in step-by-step phases towards transforming compassion of a more contrived nature into its highest and purest form.
Description of Avalokiteshvara Mandala
The lotus at the center represents Avalokiteshvara, as well the principal Buddha Amitabha. The lotus symbolizes the purification of throat Chakra in Tantra meditation. With its nature corresponding to fire element, it eradicates greed. The red petal with blue Vajra to the East represents Buddha Akshobaya. With its space elemental qualities, it symbolizes purification of the heart chakra and eradication of anger. The red petal with yellow jewel to the South represents Buddha Ratnasambhava. Its earth elemental properties help in purification of navel chakra and eradication of arrogance. The red petal with white wheel to the West represents Buddha Vairochana. Possessing the properties of water element, it symbolizes the purification of crown chakra and elimination of ignorance. And the red petal with green sword to the North represents Buddha Amoghasiddhi. Characterized by the air element, it symbolizes purification of the base chakra in Tantric meditation and eradication of jealousy. In brief it involves visualization of the five Buddhas, enhancing of the five elemental qualities, purification of the five bodily chakras, and eradication of the five negative emotions.
The four outer walls of the mansion are in five transparent layers, colored as white, yellow, red, green, and blue, represent the five classes of Dakinis and five mental qualities—faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. The four gates, one in the center of each of the four walls, represent the four immeasurable—love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The six outer lines represent the six perfections—generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom. Eight decorated pillars, two in each direction, represent the eight-fold path. The motifs in the green between the square mansion and the round fence represent wisdom Dakinis and deities connected with specific rituals. The Mandala is surrounded by a Vajra fence as a means of protection from all internal and external disturbances. The fence of flames it aimed at burning all forms of negative emotions, feelings and attitudes that impede one’s cultivation of compassion.
Mandala is depicted in various forms, shapes, and mediums—painting, sculpture, sand drawing, mental visualization, and others. Of these sand mandalas have been one of the most popular medium as it facilitates group and collective participation through the process from its initial construction to final dissolution. Unlike other formats, which require multiple processes, sand-mandala in Tibetan Buddhist tradition follows a unique sand-drawing practice through use of numerous hues and shades.
Creation and Dissolution
Prior to the creation of a Mandala, monks, having sought permission for use of the site from humans, conduct a ritual directed to non-human occupants for temporary use of the site for Tantric ritual. This is followed by a purification process where both the site and the monks officiating the ritual undergo purification and transformation processes. Monks dexterously dispense colored sand with hands to create simple model. For more complex models and intricate designs, they use a traditional brass dispenser to funnel the sand through its tip to create finer lines and richer shades.
At the end of the ritual ceremony, a Mandala is dismantled through proper rites and rituals. This dissolution represents impermanence. As the Mandala visualized as a sacred locus of meditation it is infused with powerful incantation and blessings. In order to retain its sanctity, monks chant special prayers seeking permission to dismantle the mansion and dissolve it in water to ensure the return of the elements to its purest form in water.
Dedication and Merits
The mandala creation is a powerful ritual that involves meditation on emptiness and cultivation of compassion through reliance on Tantric deities and applicative techniques. Mere presence during the creation and developing appreciation towards Tantric practice is believed to create abundance of merits. As Bodhicitta ideals prescribe, it is immensely beneficial to dedicate all merits for the sake of one’s enlightenment, which is viewed as the most effective means to alleviating the sufferings of all sentient beings. Participation in Mandala rituals through initiation rites help participants to embark upon the swift Tantric path to enlightenment. On a mundane level, Tantric Mandala rituals help ward off disease, war, famine, and evil disturbances. It ensures happiness, good health, prosperity, success, and contentment in both secular and spiritual lives.