Mandalas represent wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organisational structure of life itself – a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.
The mandala is a primal pattern based on the circle that has existed in nature since the beginning of time. It is present in the phenomena of life in all its forms: its shape is evident in the atom and the crystal; in the hurricane and the solar system; in sound waves and within our bodies. From micro to macro, the pattern is repeated.
In Sanskrit, bindu means particle or dot, and is a symbol of the universe in its unmanifest form. It is the centre point of the mandala and yantra through which the unmanifest moves into the manifest form. The study of the mandala may be thought of as a circular journey of discovery, a journey that both starts and ends at the centre point.
Mandalas also tap into sacred geometry and represent different energetic structures, including chakra systems. They are useful for unblocking, restoring, and facilitating the conscious use of energy currents
Using a Mandala as a meditative focus can help one nurture the qualities of wholeness, balance, harmony.