Womb World Mandala (TaizÅkai mandara) - Reflections of the Buddha
Womb World Mandala (TaizÅkai mandara) - Reflections of the Buddha
Womb World Mandala (TaizÅkai mandara) - Reflections of the Buddha
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<strong>Womb</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Mandala</strong> (Taizōkai <strong>Mandala</strong>) 8<br />
It is important to remember that <strong>the</strong> mandala is not a static image - although we usually think <strong>of</strong><br />
meditation as a practice to achieve mental stillness, that is not <strong>the</strong> purpose here. The reality <strong>of</strong> achieving<br />
enlightenment through <strong>the</strong> mandala is an activity where one partakes in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> universal<br />
salvation. This mandala represents compassion in action; once achieved by <strong>the</strong> practitioner, compassion<br />
radiates outwards again towards all beings in <strong>the</strong> universe. This form <strong>of</strong> meditation is an active process,<br />
transforming <strong>the</strong> mind through a series <strong>of</strong> processes and back again. The mandala <strong>the</strong>n, is not simply a<br />
pattern to be followed, but by a truly interactive absorption on behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> practitioner as <strong>the</strong> image<br />
becomes an external projection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir internal reality.<br />
Ka<strong>the</strong>rine L. Brooks<br />
Ph.D. Candidate, Department <strong>of</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art and Architecture<br />
Harvard University<br />
Pulitzer Foundation Graduate Student Research Assistant<br />
Harvard Art Museums<br />
The Pulitzer Foundation for <strong>the</strong> Arts<br />
<strong>Reflections</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong>
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