Mandalas

What is a Mandala?

The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community.



n various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. According to the psychologist David Fontana, its symbolic nature can help one "to access progressively deeper levels of the unconscious, ultimately assisting the meditator to experience a mystical sense of oneness with the ultimate unity from which the cosmos in all its manifold forms arises." The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the mandala as "a representation of the unconscious self," and believed his paintings of mandalas enabled him to identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in personality.

In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the Universe from the human perspective.

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Coloring or painting a mandala is a very relaxing experience. It is something I do with my children often. Here are some resources with downloadable or printable mandalas if you would like to give it a go:

32 crop circle mandalas for painting in meditation

Here, you can download all the Mandalas to increase your concentration, at no cost. By colouring them in, either by hand or on your PC, you will find balance and relaxation.

Mandala Coloring Pages

Try this super collection of mandala coloring pages. Start from simple to very difficult mandalas. Enjoy!

These are advanced ones for those who like a challenge!

Feel free to add any links you find with interesting mandalas