Art history (Tibetan Buddhist and Mandalas) Essay

Art history (Tibetan Buddhist and Mandalas) - Essay Example ode of ethics based on the idea of causing no harm to others while recognizing the interconnectedness of life, meditation emerged as a strong tool for finding focus and attaining balanced, well-thought-out decisions. This practice has been perfected in Tibet in the Kalachakra tradition and has been expanded into the Western world through the beautiful and fascinating art form of the mandala. The mandala has a basic circular form that causes it to be recognized as a mandala, but can be highly differentiated to reflect the beliefs, customs, practices or traditions of a particular individual or group. Its primary purpose is to facilitate meditation while serving as a reminder of the deity, the code of ethics and the impermanence of nature. Taking a look into the traditions of the mandala, therefore, can help facilitate greater understanding of more modern interpretations of this ancient art form. Traditionally, the mandala, also known as the dkyil khor, is considered to be the visual representation of the spiritual embodiment of Buddha. â€Å"The word dkyil khor means ‘center-circumference’ and describes both the essential geometric structure and ritual significance of mandalas† (George, 2000). Wayman (1980) indicates that the center is the essence of Buddha while the circumference refers to the concept of grasping, enclosing or containing, thus understanding the essence. Through this translation, the necessarily circular form of the mandala as well as the association of it with the ideas of spirituality and enlightenment becomes clear even as the art form has been transferred out of its original context in the Buddhist temples and in the care of the monks and into the larger mainstream Western society. Because these concepts are intrinsic to the art form, they have necessary transferred out as well. Within Western dictionaries and encyclopedias, the term mandala has been broadly defined as a â€Å"geometric design intended to symbolize the universe, and