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Mandala (Sanskrit maṇḍala "circle", "completion")[1] is a term used to refer to various objects. It is of Hindu origin, but is also used in other Dharmic religions, such as Buddhism. In the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism, they have been developed into sandpainting. In practice, 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.

In various spiritual traditions, mandala may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. 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." [2] The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the mandala as "a representation of the unconscious self,"[3] and believed his paintings of mandalas enabled him to identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in personality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala

how many use a mandala or an object likewise to focus and develop a more spiritual awareness during meditation?

are you a believer or disbeliever that a mandala can help one achieve a higher level of focus and spiritual heightened levels of awareness?

for all those who meditate what do you do/use during these meditations states and how do you feel it helps you both in the spiritual and physical?

I have several mandalas and dreamcatchers I've made and used over the years. ..

They are an integral part of what I do.

Smiles.

~ Wolf.

i have used mandalas too. i believe that a sacred geometry can open doors in our minds.

Yes, as a tool if you find it works for you, that's great.

I usually just try to clear my mind and stay focused, i personally do not use mandalas or any other type of object when i meditate...

i make mandalas and dream catchers

when i have the time i find them helpfull in focusing and with a greater aspect of focus it helps me to become more intune and self aware when in a meditative state,i definately believe using a mandala can help.

Ah, the sacred geometries of humankind, cannot get enough of it. Though I usually use a candle as a mandala. Works quite well.

Yes, Mandala's are used in many cultures.. I think they are a great tool for meditating..

I have used mandala's and the chakra geometric designs too. I find them a good tool to help focus my mind and stop it from wandering off in all directions when I want to focus and find a calm centre.

I use candles and music with sounds of nature in the back ground too.

As for meditation and spirituality, well I find it goes hand in hand. I need that daily time to just stop and be still give my mind and body a break from the stresses of life to get back to myself. Floating above my body and connecting to my higherself so that I can ground myself, not get beyond myself and put my ego into its rightful place. Without doing this I would be a robot like the rest of the world searching for happiness in money and fame.

In meditating I find my true source of love and happiness within myself so this helps me to appreciate others and be more understanding and accepting of my fellow man. That is a spiritual quest all of its own.

But like I said I do like to use mandala's and other geometric designs to use as a tool to help focus my mind and break away from my ego self.

If anyone is interested in learning more then try this link:

http://www.mandalaproject.org/Index.html

It explains the mandala and gives you hundreds of mandala's you can copy and use :)

I've never used a mandala to meditate with, but I love looking at them, the intricacies of their design and the sheer perfection in the angles, curves and lines always takes my breath away...

Oh I do use mandala's as I find them a wonderful tool to help quiet the mind. I also have a rare sea shell that is a classic mandala design the spirial.... and I do love to look at that especially at night with candle light as the light reflects of the swirls and is rather mesmerising.

I find it a very helpful spiritual tool to help align my chakras and sense of well being is definitely enhanced.

I guess you could say that I use a variety of Mandalas when I meditate. I generaly use Runes, Bind Runes, and other Magickal Symbols, depending on what I am trying to meditate on. When using meditation to communicate with animal spirit guides I usually will use the Animalia symbol and a small fetish of the spirit I wish to talk to.

Mandala's are beautiful to look at but I focus using myself instead of a tool such as that.

when we used to do psychedelic discos in the eighties, i took photos of mandalas, developed them into slides, and projected them onto the stage and audience - it helped create a transcendental experience. the mushroom tea probably helped too.

Sorry, comp problems there.
anyways ,I use them when I have trouble focusing and can't turn my brain off..which is a lot of the time*grins* I use crystals, scrying mirrors as well.

As I can imagin** karnstein **it must have been quite an experience..

I had a therapist talk to me about drawing a circle on a piece of paper and filling it in with colors that you felt. Or what you thought of.

She said she had a suicidal girl bring in pure black mandalas, over and over and through that, eventually, there was a little dot of color on the circle and eventually it grew.
It apparently helped the girl a lot.

well I feel it is up to the person that if they want it to help or feel it will then it will, hey whatever works for someone is all good. I myself do not use it/them but that does not mean it does not work.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of watching a Sand Mandala being created at a Tibetan monastery down south. It was fascinating and so peaceful and absorbing to watch. I was sad when they destroyed it aferwards though, I felt like they had destroyed such a lovely piece of work even though I understood the symbolism behind it.

I don't belive in these things. I especially hate all the dream catchers in cars. You shoudn't be dreaming and driving!!

Tenebrous that does sound very interesting .hummm

I use them. I think they are valuable tools.

I beleive mandalas are pure junk.

That will perfectly alowe ones dissolution.

Tools such as mandala's can be very useful for those that need them.

hmmm I never even knew about this therefore I never used one before.

everyone has a different outlook on it

I use mandalas occasionally when I'm stuck on a personal problem. I find the act of creating a mandala pattern to be a wonderful way to express my feelings about a situation, and then coloring it in helps me work through the problem. I've also been know to use Celtic knotwork and medieval illumination the same way.