14
Sep
2022
Tibetan Mandala tantric practices & benefits
Tibetan mandala tantric practices are used to cultivate and generate energy, and to bring about transformation and healing.
Table of Contents
Tibetan Mandala as a meditation tool
Mandalas can be created with a variety of materials commonly including sand, paint or fabric (appliqué).
According to the Tibetan teachings the mandala is a tool for working with the energies of the cosmos including :
In other words, the mandala can help control inner feelings by accessing and channeling the energies of the chakras, nadis, and the natural elements.
The Mandala iconography
The mandala is a map of the cosmos also called sacred diagram which the tantric practitioner uses to navigate the energies of the universe.
It is considered by practitioner to be a sacred space one should enter into with reverence and respect.
The most common mandala design features a central circle surrounded by four quadrants.
Each quadrant typically contains a different symbol or color, representing one of the four elements: earth, air, fire, or water.
The mandala is often divided into further sections, with each section representing a different level of reality.
The mandalas created by the Dalai Lama are some of the most well-known and revered.
Mandalas are considered to be powerful tools for connecting with the divine and accessing higher states of consciousness.
This is a selection of 6 commonly used mandalas in Tibetan tantric Buddhism and painted on cotton canvas by artists, devotes and practitioners:
Benefits of the Mandala practice
The mandala is usually used for protection, purification, and transformation of oneself.
Tibetan Buddhist practitioners use it to invoke and work with the energies of :
- deities
- ancestors
- natural world
Physical and mental well-being
The tantric practice can help improve focus and concentration, reducing stress and anxiety.
A relaxed and focused mind can in turn give space to an enhanced creativity and self-awareness.
Fundamental communication skills
In addition with promoting physical and mental well-being, awareness can help the practitioner to significantly improve fundamental communication skills such as:
- focused listening
- clarity of thought
- emotional stability
- empathy and understanding
- patience and tolerance
- flexibility and openness
Problem-solving skills
With strong fundamental communication skills advance practitioners naturally tend to start focusing on improving their problem-solving skills such as:
- damage control (via emotional stability)
- persevere through difficult tasks (via patience and practice)
- adapte to a quickly changing environment (via flexibility and openness)
- come up with new ideas (via creativity)
- organize efficient systems (via clarity of thought)
- develop critical and analytical views (via empathy and understanding)
- become more mindful of the present moment and the choices required
Spiritual growth
Finally self-esteem and spiritual growth are rooted in the combination of all previously mentioned steps.
A leader’s spiritual growth is an ongoing process that can be enhanced by a variety of spiritual practices.
Spiritual growth is a never-ending journey influenced by many factors, including personal beliefs, values and life experiences.
Spiritual growth can usually be “enhanced” by:
- studying different spiritual views
- practicing with discipline
- spending time in nature
- developing a personal relationship with a Higher Power
- service to others and acts of kindness
On the contrary it is crucial to remain aware that spiritual growth can be “hindered” by:
- negative thoughts and emotions
- wrongly interpreted experiences
- ego, pride, and other forms of self-centeredness
To conclude the Tibetan Mandala tantric practice is one tool among others used by practitioners to help grow the spirit while reducing negative interferences.
Mandala Painting Gallery
The mandala has reappeared in cultures and traditions throughout history, and the design and pattern it takes are often informed by the intended meaning of the piece.
There are a number of traditional symbols used in mandala art that hail from Buddhist, Hindu and modern imagery.
