The Sanskrit word ”Mandala” literally translates to a circle. The circular pieces of art are a representation of higher thought and deeper meaning. Even though mandalas are a common sight in many cultures the meaning usually derives from the same purpose of centering oneself in order to encourage awareness of our place and purpose in the world.
The most traditional form of mandalas is the Tibetan mandala in Buddhism. It usually depicts the enlightened state of Buddha and is made of sand. Mandalas slowly come to life on the ground when monks use small tubes and metal to slowly trickle the sand down to create a masterpiece. One mandala can take weeks to complete, and shortly after it’s complete, it is destroyed in accordance to the Buddhist belief that nothing is permanent.
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