Mandala+Meditation+Practice



During the long lunch period, we will set aside time to try some meditation. One can meditate in a variety of ways. Most popularly, people will sit and meditate, eyes softly closed, and breathing slowly. However, one can meditate while walking, running, painting, and in our case, coloring. We will be designing (or coloring in) one of the most famous Buddhist symbols, the mandala.

Now it's important to note that mandalas are found in all religions and cultures. The idea of a circle design with an important centering figure is found in ancient Buddhist art to Native American art. Mandalas are made individually or as a group activity. Regardless of where or with whom you are designing a mandala, a few major commonalities hold true: -The center of the circle is the focus point and has a very important meaning to the designer. This could be a meaningful color or design that reminds the viewer to pause and find his/her way back to meaningfulness. -The outer edges are a geometrical pattern that represent balance as well as the 'path' one would need to naturally experience to reach the center clarity. -Bright colors and symbols give the function an attractive appeal and in many ways, tell a story about the person designing the piece. -Often the designer uses symbols of nature or the universe (zodiac symbols, elements of life symbols, flowers, shapes, and patterns).