Constructing a sand mandala is an ancient Tibetan ritual art. A mandala (Sanskrit for "circle") is a sacred, symbolic diagram, used as a meditational aid in Buddhism and Hinduism. One of the most interesting aspects of Tibetan sand mandalas is that the diagram is meant to be impermanent. Although many hours of painstaking skill go into its construction, after being used in a sacred ceremony, a sand mandala is swept up and the sand scattered into a nearby river or lake as a blessing. Many people find the dismantling and scattering of the sand to be the most moving part of the ritual.
Create Your Own Sand Mandala will appeal to anyone interested in meditation, Buddhism, or sacred art. This kit makes it possible for anyone of any level of artistic ability to design his or her own personalized sand mandala ceremony. It contains enough sand to make three mandalas in five sacred colors (red, yellow, green, blue, and white), a funnel for directing the flow of the sand, and a brush for sweeping it up. The kit's box opens to become a base on which the mandala can be created and the kit also includes templates for guiding your designs. Instruction for coloring your own sand is provided for those who wish to make additional sand mandalas.
The accompanying full-color book gives a brief history of the use and significance of sand mandalas in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as various examples of mandalas, sand paintings, and "sacred circles" in other cultures. Readers will learn how mandalas can be used as aids to meditation, as a form of prayer, in psychology, and in healing ceremonies. Readers will also learn some of the traditional meanings of colors and symbols used in mandalas, as well as meditation techniques for centering and setting the intention for a mandala.
Easy to follow step-by-step instructions guide readers in creating mandalas for healing, personal empowerment, and as an aid to prayer for peace. Readers interested in creating mandalas in materials other than sand will find guidelines for using paint, pencil, computer software, natural materials, and other mediums, as well as full color examples of "mandala" artwork by contemporary artists.
Create Your Own Sand Mandala, Eileen M. Rose and Abby Rose Dalto, Godsfield Press, $24.95
Introduction: What a Sand Mandala is and Why You�ll Want to Create One
Chapter 1: The Mandala in World Traditions
Chapter 2: Color and Traditional Symbolism
Chapter 3: Creating Your Own Sand Mandala
Chapter 4: Creating a Healing Mandala
Chapter 5: Creating a Mandala for Personal Empowerment
Chapter 6: Creating a Mandala for Peace
Chapter 7: More Ways of Bringing the Mandala into Your Life
Chapter 8: Mandalas in Paint, Pencil, Pixel, and Stone
Appendix: How to Color Your Own Sand
Resources for Further Study
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