Product Description

A cosmos of sand

The world of mandalas has never been described so sensitively and in such depth of detail. As H. H. the XIV Dalai Lama implies in the foreword to the book, mandalas were simply viewed as works of art for many years. That simplistic interpretation of sacred signs has led to numerous misunderstandings.

That is why Martin Brauen has focused on the connection between sacred doctrine and meditation images in his book, MANDALA ‒ Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism. A basic introduction to the "Buddhist way" hones the viewer's senses to perceive essentials. Thus the many descriptions of mandalas provided become a cultural feast for the eyes, which at the same time provides insights into Buddhist teaching: to take one example, the divinity Śrī Hevajra stands at the centre of one of the mandalas, his feet planted on lesser divinities, while he embraces his consort, Nairātmā, with two of his many arms. In another image, a three-dimensional Lotus mandala that, in its closed state, has just resembled a candlestick is shown opening out. Inside its copper leaves it holds small statues of Hevajra, surrounded by eight large Siddhas, Enlightened Ones.

This sacred art has attained its zenith in the sand mandalas. They are created by monks clad in reddish orange robes, who sprinkle pigments on a cloth, taking days of ceremonial ritual to do so. The result is not, despite what one might expect, a rough juxtaposition of coloured fields. On the contrary, the monks draw exquisitely detailed figures, script signs and patterns with brightly coloured sand. Magnificent decoration spirits the viewer away to another world. Yet no sooner has one abandoned oneself to this cosmos of sand than it has been consigned to the past. For the fate of so many mandalas is that they must be destroyed to pass through the cycle of transformation.

This book (all 264 pages of it) pulses with life, from its scholarly and always highly readable texts to its many illustrations in large formats and brilliant colours that pay fitting tribute to the mandala's infinite richness of detail. A section of this extraordinary book is a lavishly illustrated catalogue of 38 top-quality examples taken from museums of international standing supplemented by detail photographs, tables and plates elucidating the world of mandalas. This is a particularly lucid work on the "sacred circles", which, according to Buddhist doctrine, represent the unity of man and cosmos in an infinite variety of ways.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #727658 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 262 pages

From Library Journal
Originally published in Germany in 1992, this book gives a detailed and thorough explanation of the meaning, function, and rituals involved with the Kalacakra mandala. Each mandala in Tantric Buddhism is created to show "clearly and intelligibly the correlation between the adept's body and the universe. This lays the foundation for conscious control of the forces operating in this holistic system." Brauen, who has experienced himself the ritual involved with this mandala, focuses on the Kalacakra mandala as part of a larger discussion of the complex rituals and meditation practices involved with Tantric Buddhism. He has given us a book that will be especially useful for those wanting an in-depth treatment of the subject. Also provided are explanatory line drawings and stunning color plates (including pictures of the participation of the Dalai Lama). Recommended for academic libraries and any library serving patrons who have a significant interest in various aspects of Buddhism.?David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernadino
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Brauen's book is one of the clearest and most lucid expositions of mandala theory and practice to appear in recent years. As such, it is destined to become a classic both in the classroom and in the public reader's library." Prof. Frank Korom, Boston University.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Customer Reviews

A mandala is not a psychic diagram!
Martin Brauen's The Mandala: Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism, translated from the German by Martin Wilson . There have been 3 or 4 other books on the subject to my knowledge, but this is by far the most extensive. Prefaced by remarks from H.H. Dalai Lama and focussing mainly on the Kalachakra tradition, it gives examples from other teachings, too. It provides a complete explanation of the mandala in tangka form, in architectural structures such as various stupas and monasteries, as well as the mandala offered in preliminary tantric practice. Besides scroll paintings and the familiar sand-painting forms, we see a delightful 3-dimensional zhi kro carved model among the many beautiful photographs and illustrations. Brauen reveals in detail the Buddhist cosmogony and Hindu mythology that is the foundation for mandalas and the deities that dwell in them.

An extensive researcher with profound understanding, the jacket reveals that Professor Brauen, who is chairman of the Department of Tibet, Himalayas and Far East at the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich, Switzerland is currently working on a computer animation of the Kalachakra cosmos.