Tibetan Mandalas, Arts and Traditions pays homage to the rich history and culture of the Himalayan region, in particular that of Tibet and the Bon tradition, bringing their heritage into conversation with a modern, global society. Written by leading experts in the field, including Samten Karmay and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, this book delves into Tibet's past and its present, looking at how its traditions may interact with the future, exploring the place of meditation and yoga in modern medicine, and considering the role of rituals into today's world. All proceeds from this book go to the TISE Himalayan International School (THIS), based in Siliguri, India.
Sacred art presented as coloring templates for contemplation and creativity—stunning and detailed artwork from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Drawing on his brush paintings in The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs and other works, Robert Beer has selected 50 images meant to be used as templates for coloring. The book features figures spanning centuries of the tradition, including spiritual adventurers, rebellious saints, and enlightened Tantric masters. The detailed artwork is elegant and meaningful—drawing on Buddhist teachings to give each piece greater depth.
According to Tibetan Buddhism the mandala is a representation of the microcosm and macrocosm. The Kalachakra mandala the special subject of this study is especially important to Tibet's present Dalai Lama. This book presents in pictures and text the traditions, techniques and artistry that go into completing the mandala and a considered evaluation of its spiritual significance. Meticulously rendered photographs show the various stages in creation of the mandala and its power as a spiritual symbol and work of art.
Now back in print comes this stunning visual introduction to the artistic and spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism--the Kalachakra Sand Mandala. "Spiritual vision communicated by art and ritual."--"Tricycle." 36 color photos. 199 b&w photos.
The first broad study of Japanese mandalas to appear in a Western language, this volume interprets mandalas as sanctified realms where identification between the human and the sacred occurs. The author investigates eighth- to seventeenth-century paintings from three traditions: Esoteric Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and the kami-worshipping (Shinto) tradition. It is generally recognized that many of these mandalas are connected with texts and images from India and the Himalayas. A pioneering theme of this study is that, in addition to the South Asian connections, certain paradigmatic Japanese mandalas reflect pre-Buddhist Chinese concepts, including geographical concepts. In convincing and lucid prose, ten Grotenhuis chronicles an intermingling of visual, doctrinal, ritual, and literary elements in these mandalas that has come to be seen as characteristic of the Japanese religious tradition as a whole. This beautifully illustrated work begins in the first millennium B.C.E. in China with an introduction to the Book of Documents and ends in present-day Japan at the sacred site of Kumano. Ten Grotenhuis focuses on the Diamond and Womb World mandalas of Esoteric Buddhist tradition, on the Taima mandala and other related mandalas from the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, and on mandalas associated with the kami-worshipping sites of Kasuga and Kumano. She identifies specific sacred places in Japan with sacred places in India and with Buddhist cosmic diagrams. Through these identifications, the realm of the buddhas is identified with the realms of the kami and of human beings, and Japanese geographical areas are identified with Buddhist sacred geography. Explaining why certain fundamental Japanese mandalas look the way they do and how certain visual forms came to embody the sacred, ten Grotenhuis presents works that show a complex mixture of Indian Buddhist elements, pre-Buddhist Chinese elements, Chinese Buddhist elements, and indigenous Japanese elements.
The first scholarly monograph on Buddhist maṇḍalas in China, this book examines the Maṇḍala of Eight Great Bodhisattvas. This iconographic template, in which a central Buddha is flanked by eight attendants, flourished during the Tibetan (786–848) and post-Tibetan Guiyijun (848–1036) periods at Dunhuang. A rare motif that appears in only four cave shrines at the Mogao and Yulin sites, the maṇḍala bore associations with political authority and received patronage from local rulers. Attending to the historical and cultural contexts surrounding this iconography, this book demonstrates that transcultural communication over the Silk Routes during this period, and the religious dialogue between the Chinese and Tibetan communities, were defining characteristics of the visual language of Buddhist maṇḍalas at Dunhuang.
In a world constantly pulling you in a million directions, "Inner Mirror" offers a sanctuary for your soul. This transformative guide dives deep into the art of self-reflection and the power of self-help, revealing the secrets to unlocking your fullest potential. Discover how to cultivate personal growth, enhance emotional well-being, and build stronger relationships through insightful practices and practical tools. Learn to navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace while embracing your journey toward self-discovery and fulfillment. Whether you are at the beginning of your self-help journey or seeking to deepen your understanding of yourself, "Inner Mirror" provides the roadmap to a more empowered, authentic, and joyful life. Reflect, grow, and thrive with the wisdom within these pages. Your journey to a better you starts here.
Mandalas are sacred symbolic images traditionally used as meditational aids in Buddhism and Hinduism. This kit provides everyone from the beginner to the professional artist with the materials and know-how to create beautiful mandalas to aid meditation, relaxation and personal growth, as well as for use in prayers and healing rituals. Sand mandalas are scattered once they have been made, symbolizing life's impermanence. Many people find the dismantling and scattering ceremony very moving. templates and a base of constructing sand mandalas. The accompanying book gives all the background history and spiritual aid the reader needs. This step-by-step guide to creating sand mandalas, from preparatory meditation to scattering, is based on traditional methods used in Tibetan Buddhism and other cultures. Make Your Own Sand Mandala provides a wealth of history, tradition, spirituality and art, while reminding us that life is as beautiful and transitory as a sand mandala.
From the time Buddhism entered the mythical land of the snows, Tibetans have expressed their spiritual devotion and celebrated their culture with dance. This book--lavishly illustrated with color and rare historic photographs depicting the dances, costumes, and masks--is the first to explore the significance and symbolism of the sacred and secular ritual dances of Tibetan Buddhism.
Discover the hidden tradition of Tibetan yoga, a practice of magical movement for wellness of body, breath, and mind. In Tibetan Yoga, discover ancient Tibetan yogic practices that integrate body, breath, and mind on the journey to personal cultivation and enlightenment. Tibetan Yoga offers accessible instructions for performing the ancient yogic techniques of Tibet’s Bön religion. This is Tibetan yoga, or trul khor, a deeply authentic yogic practice. Drawing on thirty years of training with Bön’s most senior masters as well as advanced academic study, Dr. Alejandro Chaoul offers expert guidance on practices that were first developed by Bön masters over a millennium ago, framing them according to the needs of contemporary yoga practitioners and meditators. No matter their level of experience, dedicated practitioners of Tibetan yoga will discover its ability to clear away obstacles and give rise to meditative states of mind. In this book you’ll learn what it means to practice for the benefit of all beings, and to experience your body as a mandala, from center to periphery. These movements help you live in a more interconnected mind-breath-body experience, with benefits including: - better focus, - stress reduction, - the elimination of intrusive thoughts, - better sleep, - and general well-being.