Personal Mandala Bogozan Heggie What is a Mandala

Personal Mandala Bogozan/ Heggie

What is a Mandala, you ask? Mandala: any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation

Temporary Sand Mandala n Tibetan monks create impermanent mandalas as an act of meditation. When they’ve completed the mandala, they sweep it up and release the sand into a moving body of water to spread the mandala’s blessings.

Personal Mandalas:

What is a Personal Mandala? n In the West, mandala is used to refer to the "personal world" in which one lives, the various elements of the mandala or the activities and interests in which one engages, the most important being at the center of the mandala and the least important at the periphery.

Your Assignment… You will create your own personal mandala on the concentric circles before you. n Whatever thing/person/concept is MOST IMPORTANT in your life will go in the center circle. Then, you will depict the second most important thing/person/concept in the next circle out from the center. Etcetera. n Try not to be literal in your depictions. Think symbolically. If your mother is most important, don’t try to draw a picture of her, draw something that symbolizes

Presentations You will present two of the 5 elements on your mandala. You may choose which two you present, but you must explain the symbolism and importance of each element. We will present tomorrow at the beginning of class.