Mandalas are one of the most popular aids to meditation, with people worldwide finding enlightenment through the simple task of bringing a sparse outline to colorful life. Previous books have featured mandalas in black and white outline which users hand-color in. However, once the book is completed you have to buy new books to maintain your meditations. One Million Mandalas offers readers a lifetime of beautiful designs to color in and use for meditation. The disk's easily accessible art is usable in three ways: with a couple of clicks you will be able to select and print one of the basic mandala designs, construct your own mandala by different ring designs from a drop-down menu, or randomly generate a mandala. Because there are 100 centers, 100 middle rings, and 100 outer rings, the disk supplies one million possible permutations andcombinations! The book is complete with an introduction to the concept of mandalas, and the history and philosophy behind them, along with clear directions on using the CD-ROM, and a complete visual catalog of all the mandala designs in the program.

Mandalas can be among the most challenging designs to color. This helpful book offers numbers that correspond to a color key: use them for guidance or strike out on your own! Pages are perforated and printed on one side only. 46 illustrations.

Koichi Shinohara traces the evolution of Esoteric Buddhist rituals from the simple recitation of spells in the fifth century to complex systems involving image worship, mandala initiation, and visualization practices in the ninth century. He presents an important new reading of a seventh-century Chinese text called the Collected Dharani Sutras, which shows how earlier rituals for specific deities were synthesized into a general Esoteric initiation ceremony and how, for the first time, the notion of an Esoteric Buddhist pantheon emerged. In the Collected Dharani Sutras, rituals for specific deities were typically performed around images of the deities, yet Esoteric Buddhist rituals in earlier sources involved the recitation of spells rather than the use of images. The first part of this study explores how such simpler rituals came to be associated with the images of specific deities and ultimately gave rise to the general Esoteric initiation ceremony described in the crucial example of the All-Gathering mandala ritual in the Collected Dharani Sutras. The visualization practices so important to later Esoteric Buddhist rituals were absent from this ceremony, and their introduction would fundamentally change Esoteric Buddhist practice. This study examines the translations of dharani sutras made by Bodhiruci in the early eighth century and later Esoteric texts, such as Yixing's commentary on the Mahavairocana sutra and Amoghavajra's ritual manuals, to show how incorporation of visualization greatly enriched Esoteric rituals and helped develop elaborate iconographies for the deities. Over time, the ritual function of images became less certain, and the emphasis shifted toward visualization. This study clarifies the complex relationship between images and ritual, changing how we perceive Esoteric Buddhist art as well as ritual.

With this book, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche explains with clarity and precision how we can practice the sublime meditations of Heruka body mandala, and thereby gradually transform our ordinary world and experiences into those of a Buddha, a fully enlightened being. He follows this with definitive instructions on the completion stage practices that can lead directly to the supreme bliss of full enlightenment in this one lifetime. This is a treasury of practical instructions for those seriously interested in following the Tantric path. • The first complete explanation in English of the Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Heruka body mandala • Sublime methods for transforming our ordinary minds and attaining pure selfless joy • The actual method to accomplish the supreme bliss of full enlightenment in this lifetime

A comprehensive guide to the creation stage of the Guhyasamaja. The Essence of the Ocean of Attainments (Dngos grub rgya mtsho’i snying po) is a commentary on the creation stage of the Guhyasamaja Tantra written by the illustrious Panchen Lama, Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen (1570–1662). The practice of Guhyasamaja, one of the earliest and most influential of the highest Tantras, along with its remarkable hermeneutic system, created a framework that was applied to other so-called unexcelled Tantras. Still very much a living tradition, in our time the Fourteenth Dalai Lama confers its empowerment every year. In this work, the Panchen Lama not only clarifies each step of the sadhana meditation ritual, but he also offers general insights into the practice and its workings. It is an Essence because it distills the much longer Ocean of Attainments commentary on the practice composed by Khedrup Jé (1385–1438), one of two key disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism’s Geluk school. The Panchen Lama identifies core elements of sadhana and with unparalleled precision clarifies many seminal points. In her introduction, Yael Bentor surveys the creation stage of unexcelled Tantra as presented by the founding fathers of the Geluk school and unpacks the contents of The Essence of the Ocean of Attainments for readers. The translation features both explanatory annotations for practitioners and ample references for scholars.

Relax, create and connect with mandala art. Do you love coloring mandalas? You're not alone! Adult coloring books are gaining in popularity every day. Do you want to learn how to draw and color your own mandalas? In The Mandala Guidebook, Kathryn Costa shows you how with easy instructions perfect for the beginner. You'll find a wide range of projects, each with beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions covering more design styles and artistic mediums than any other book out there. Simply put, a mandala is a circle with a design in the center, but psychologists and spiritual leaders have used mandalas as a tool for self-reflection and self-exploration through the ages. Mandalas have intrigued cultures around the world, from Celtic spirals and Indian mehndi to medieval church labyrinths. And now it's your turn! If you can write the alphabet, you can create beautiful and expressive mandalas. Journey with Kathryn, creator of the "100 Mandalas Challenge," to create spontaneous and spirited mandala art: • Enjoy prompts and questions to practice self-discovery, gratitude, relaxation, meditation and explore your unique talents and artistic path as you create • Discover 24 demonstrations with clear and colorful step-by-step instructions to master the mechanics of making mandalas--both freehand and geometrically symmetrical designs • Explore mixed media and textural painting techniques within the boundaries of a circle using everything from a simple pen and paper to watercolor, collage, acrylic and stamped Gelli plate • Get pattern inspiration and discover how to play with color using common palettes from the world around you Set your intention and learn how to use mandalas to solve problems, let go of fear, lean into love and gain clarity and insight as you create!

This compilation of original illustrations to color combines two favorite themes, mandalas and Art Nouveau. Thirty-one designs incorporate the hypnotic magnetism of circular mandala patterns as well as the distinctive curvilinear forms of Art Nouveau and its characteristic vines, flowers, and other naturalistic motifs. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Art Nouveau Mandalas and other Creative Haven® adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress.

Reprint. originally published: Tharpa Publications, 1991.

Guide to Dakini Land is the first complete explanation in English to the Tantric practice of Vajrayogini, the female Buddha of wisdom. The book provides detailed instructions on the eleven yogas of generation stage, which are special methods for transforming all our daily activities into the spiritual path. It also explains with perfect clarity the essential completion stage practices of Vajrayogini. It includes all the sadhanas of Vajrayogini and advice on how to do a Tantric retreat, and a wealth of additional material that will be indispensable to anyone wishing to rely upon Buddha Vajrayogini.

Enjoy coloring mandalas like you never have before! From best-selling artist Thaneeya McArdle comes a new adult coloring book that features 40 nature-inspired mandala designs with flowers, butterflies, hedgehogs, chipmunks, birds, and other signs of spring. With introductory tips on coloring techniques and an inspirational gallery of completed examples to inspire you before you begin, Woodland Mandalas Coloring Book is sure to breathe new life into your coloring practice. Designs are printed on a single side of high-quality, extra-thick paper with perforated edges for easy removal and display.