The Wheel of Time, Sand Mandala: Visual Scripture of Tibetan Buddhism - Hardcover

Bryant, Barry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062500899 ISBN 13: 9780062500892

Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994

Synopsis

This text captures the painstakingly meticulous execution of the precise and delicate sifting of coloured sands into the intricate patterns and symbols that make up the mandala. The process of making the mandala is itself a meditation, as it imparts peace and healing to all beings and to the planet. As a visual text, it is a key to the essential teachings of Tibetan Buddhism with representations of, among other things, 722 deities with the Buddha sitting on a lotus in the centre. The photographs and text also convey the serenity, humour and spirituality of the monks who made the mandala.

About this title

Review

"The Wheel of Time is actually a self-contained lay-person's introduction to the entire Tibetan Buddhist tradition that takes as its starting point the visual window offered by the Kalachakra mandala."

"This book brings a crystal clarity to one of the most profound rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. Barry Bryant has produced a gorgeous, powerful, and thorough guide to everything about the Kalachakra, from the technical details of the mandala's architecture to the deep spiritual meanings it embodies."

"This wonderful book took years of Bryant's life to complete (he died of cancer in 1997 at the age of 56). And if you were stranded on a desert island and wanted just one comprehensive reminder of what Buddhism has to offer, plus the significance of the Kalachakra as a vehicle for world peace, it would have to be this gem. Certainly, it is about the creation and meaning of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala (the monks who help to make it say they are reconstructing a representation of something that already exists: the utopia of Shambhala). But it is so much more: the life of the Buddha, his teachings, the coming of Buddhism to Tibet, the Dalai Lamas, Namgyal Monastery, the bestowing of the Kalachakra on whole communities, the initiation rituals, the practice of the Kalachakra Tantra in our daily lives to transform our consciousness...all in a riveting, readable style. Plus some beautiful illustrations."--Mandala: A Tibetan Buddhist Journal

"This book brings a crystal clarity to one of the most profound rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. Barry Bryant has produced a gorgeous. powerful. and thorough guide to everything about the Kalachakra, from the technical details of the mandala's architecture to the deep spiritual meanings it embodies."--Daniel Goleman, author of Healing Emotions

"If you were stranded on a desert island and wanted just one comprehensive reminder of what Buddhism has to offer, plus the significance of the Kalachakra as a vehicle for world peace, it would have to be this gem. Certainly it is about the creation and meaning of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala (the monks who help to make it say they are reconstructing a representation of something that already exists: the utopia of Shambhala). But it is so much more: the life of the Buddha, his teachings, the coming of Buddhism to Tibet, the Dalai Lamas, Namgyal Monastery, the bestowing of the Kalachakra on whole communities, the initiation rituals, the practice of the Kalachakra Tantra in our daily lives to transform our consciousness . . . all in a riveting readable style. Plus some beautiful illustrations."--Mandala: A Tibetan Buddhist Journal

From the Back Cover

Here is a stunning visual introduction to Tibetan Buddhism with 36 color photos, 199 b&w photos, and 30 line drawings. According to the monks who create it, the Kalachakra Sand Mandala, also known as the Wheel of Time, imparts peace and healing to all beings and to the planet. Remarkable not only for its profound beauty but also for the intricate process of its construction--a delicate sifting of colored sands into elaborate patterns and symbols rich in meaning--the mandala serves as a visual scripture and vital key to understanding the essential teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. This lavishly illustrated volume captures each stage of the mandala's construction, the serene joy and painstaking discipline of the monks, and the fascinating history behind its symbolism.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062500899
• ISBN 13: 9780062500892
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256