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This art form is often associated with Tibetan-monk artists who spend hours creating them out of multicolored sand. Navaho Indians create similar sand-painted mandalas on the ground for healing ceremonies. Mandalas actually transcend many cultures, times, and places. Indeed, Carl Jung, the father of modern psychology, considers mandalas to be the ultimate symbols for uniting our inner and outer selves. |
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The labyrinth pattern on the floor of Chartres
Cathedral (now reproduced on the floor of Grace
Cathedral in San Francisco) is another type of
mandala. |
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If the visual doesn't do it for you, maybe a sound-oriented way to approach a higher plane of consciousness will work. One such method uses a mantra during meditation. Repeating a particular word or phrase, which usually has a sacred connotation, throughout the meditation helps to keep the mind focused. |
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A common Sanskrit mantra is ''om nama shivaya," which roughly translates into "I honor the Self in all." The Hebrew word "shalom" (meaning peace) is commonly used as a mantra. Other frequently used words are "love," "beauty," "peace," and "God." Any word that is sacred to you or evokes a special feeling of a quality you seek to develop is a good word to try out. |
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