Mandalas are ancient symbols of prayer and meditation used by many easterner's like Hindus and Buddhists. Mandalas can be small or large, simple or ornate, the only requirement being that they are circular in shape. Those who use mandalas have a noticeable impact on their moods and their spirits. 'They would find changes within themselves. Stress would be relieved. They were not as anxious about problems they were facing, or solutions would come to them as they were working on the mandalas.
The word 'mandala' is Sanskrit for 'circle,' and the symbols have been around for thousands of years. Mandalas originated among the Hindus but are widely used as meditation and prayer tools by Buddhists. In recent years, mandalas are becoming increasingly popular in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Buddhist monks are known for creating intricate mandalas out of colored sand. According to tantric practice, Buddhists consider mandalas to be 'sacred abodes of meditation deities, and as such are expression of enlightened qualities of mind such as compassion and wisdom,' author Don Farber wrote in Tibetan Buddhist Life.
A wealth of meaning can be found in mandalas, including symbols of celestial circles, the cosmos, and the structure of life itself as seen by humanity looking at the universe.
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