Buddhist Glossary

In general, an art form based on the closed circle, which is the symbol on eternal continuity. In Trantric Buddhism (Vajrayana), it is a painting or tapestry based on concentric circles. Within the circles, the Buddha usually appears with other deities, bodhisattvas, and other symbolic imagery. For the monk, a mandala serves as a focus of meditation, and a symbolic representation of the reality of the identity of samsara and nirvana. In popular religion, the mandala is often the focus of worship--or, to put it another way, the Buddhas and deities depicted in a mandala become the object(s) of worship. For further information about mandalas, click here.