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A mandala is a blueprint of the Buddhist conception of mankind’s ultimate liberation and subsequent supreme bliss. The traditional definition of “Tantra” is continuity, and is the process of destroying the world of ignorance and illusion. This can be done by building a foundation on the basis of wisdom. The mandala itself is a cosmic representation of a Buddhist Diety's palace where the Diety resides. There are many different mandalas and there are mandalas for both peaceful and wrathful dieties.
Generally, mandalas are presented as paintings or scrolls that are carved on wood or drawn with colored sand. Sand mandalas are made of specially colored marble sand from Bhutan. There are benefits for the viewer of the mandala. These include clearing obstacles in one’s life and purifying negative actions and karmas one may have done in the past. Although this is a beautiful form of art, the viewers can experience benefit and blessings by concentrating on the image of the mandala. Before the sand mandala is constructed, special ceremonies are conducted to "clear" the space where the sand mandala is to be constructed of any "inauspicious" energy. After the mandala is drawn by hand and compass on a large board. Before starting to lay the sand by hand, another ceremony is completed to bless and consecrate the start of the sand mandala.
Sacred mandalas are also sometimes built by some meditation practitioners after they have completed a 3 year or longer retreat. The mandala is used to help the practioner develop deeper concentration and meditation and spiritual realizations.
The mandala is usually ritually dismantled and symbolizes the impermanence of life and reminds us not to attach to things in this world. The mandala is then dispersed into a body of flowing water with special ceremonies. Since the sand is blessed from the making of the mandala, it is like placing a “precious jewel” into the water that will be carried by the current around the area that will provide more healing to the region and provide protection from harm.
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