November 8, 2010 on 11:00 am
Dear Spiritual Explorer: Somebody told me that a mandala could be better than a therapist or healer. What are mandalas and what is their purpose? Jennie K. of Juneau, AK
2011 Healing Mandalas Calendar
Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning “circle.” They are replete in both Hindu and Buddhist religious teachings; their sacred art often takes the form of a mandala. What does it look like? Usually it is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. The term mandala however is of Hindu origin, but has been used in Buddhist traditions. Departing from traditional mandala form is a calendar at Ma’s India called 2011 Healing Mandalas Calendar. In the center of each mandala is the planet Earth with eastern and western halves combined. Earth is set on elements made from tropical flowers. The purpose of this mandala is to represent a synergy of interconnection with the Earth and support the hopeful emergence of a world of beauty. That is the avowed purpose of the creators, Bonnie Gold Bell and David Sun Todd. Colorful and creative, these mandalas are wonderful to gaze upon as one sits for meditation.
Mandalas are usually used to focus the attention of meditators. One form of explanation as to how it does this is that a mandala somehow focuses and makes one-pointed one’s attention. The mandala’s symbolic nature helps one to access progressively deeper levels of the unconscious, ultimately assisting one to experience a mystical state. I believe part of your question emanates from the belief of the great psychologist Carl Jung that his paintings of mandalas, as representative of the unconscious self, could identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in the personality.
I don’t believe Jung’s intention was that one could dispense with therapy or healing just by gazing on a mandala, but I’ll bet that it would be a great adjunct to them. I think that if your intention is to reconnect with your wholeness, certainly a mandala would be of great assistance. And did you know that the medieval meaning of the word “heal” is ‘wholeness”? I think that some have expanded the word “heal” to “whole” to “holiness.” which makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for writing an interesting question. Spiritual Explorer
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