The spiritual work on the Mandala of the Heavenly Jerusalem can take many different forms. These range from a single Mandala meditation (lasting about an hour) through a wide variety of workshops, seminars and initiatic cycles, up to extended summer gatherings and spiritual schools. In the schools the meditative work based on the Mandala becomes a great milestone on the Rainbow Path and leads to an entry into the Holy City though the various gates.
In this section it is impossible to describe, even to list, the great variety of types of meditations based on the Mandala. For illustration let us give just one example of a Mandala meditation. Figuratively speaking, we can name this meditation "Knocking at the doors of the Heavenly Jerusalem".
If we meditate on mantras and spiritual formulas from the various religions, they will serve as keys which will enable us to enter into the spiritual worlds of these religions. For instance, the great Buddhist mantra Om Mani Padme Hum symbolises the mystery of the three perfect bodies of Buddha – Dharmakäya, Sambhogakäya and Nirmänakäya – related to the three-fold structure of the universe.
In the OM we experience the Dharmakäya and the mystery of the universal body; |
in the MANI the Sambhogakäya and the mystery of the mantric sound, as the awakener of the psychic consciousness, of inner vision and inspiration; |
in the PADMA we experience the Nirmänakäya and the mystery of the all-transforming mind; |
in the HUM we experience the Vajrakäya as synthesis of the transcendental body of the Three Mysteries… |
"Lama Anagarika Govinda, Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism" |
So, by meditating on Om Mani Padme Hum, we can link with the Buddhist spiritual world and taste the flavour of this approach to the essence of Being. Thus, metaphorically speaking, we will knock at the doors of the Buddhist Temple. In a similar way we can find appropriate mantras or formulas fitting for each spiritual tradition – for example, Om Tat Sat Chit Ananda (Hinduism), I am that I am (Judaism), I am the Resurrection and the Life (Christianity) and so forth.
For many spiritual groups and movements meditation begins and ends with the singing of Om – the sacred word-vibration of the Universe. Our Mandala meditation could also adopt this practice. Then, a possible format for this Mandala meditation could be as follows:
M a n d a l a M e d i t a t i o n |
To begin |
__________Sing Om three times in rich harmony; |
Hinduism |
__________Om Tat Sat Chit Ananda |
Buddhism |
__________Om Mani Padme Hum |
Judaism |
__________I am that I am |
Christianity |
__________I am the Resurrection and the Life |
Islam |
__________Lä iläha ill' Alläh |
The Master Beinsa Douno's Tradition |
|
__________God is Love, |
|
__________God is Wisdom, |
|
__________God is Truth, |
|
The Holy Spirit |
__________Holy, Holy, Holy |
__________Is the Lord God Almighty |
|
__________Who was, Who is, |
|
__________Who is to come |
|
Close |
__________Sing Om three times in rich harmony. |
|
Beginning with the singing of Om three times in rich harmony concentrates the mind on the highest vibration of Being and creates the spiritual atmosphere within the group. After 3-5 minutes the group continues by saying three times the first mantra Om Tat Sat Chit Ananda. This mantra activates the vibrations of the Hindu Holy Trinity (Om Tat Sat ), the ability to understand it (Chit) and the state of bliss and ecstasy in its contemplation (Ananda).
For 5-10 minutes (depending on the spiritual stream within the group and the spiritual contact of the leader of the meditation, if there is such) the group concentrates and meditates on the Hindu spiritual world. The purpose of this short meditation is to link with the love and light emanating from the Hindu spiritual culture, to feel the blessings of the great Hindu Masters, to enter the Heavenly Jerusalem through this gate and to receive living fruits of illumination from the Hindu celestial Temple. We have to experience this Temple as one of the 'many mansions' in the Heavenly Jerusalem. In a similar way we meditate on each of the other spiritual formulas and then finish the meditation with the singing of Om.
Groups performing this Mandala meditation can of course vary the formulas and mantras. Moreover, it is very important to include formulas which invoke the spiritual presence of the feminine counterparts of the Divine Masters. For example, a perfect formula for linking with Our Lady, the mother of Jesus Christ, is 'I am the Immaculate Conception'. Groups are also encouraged to add appropriate mantras and formulas for other traditions if they know the spiritual gates which these traditions open. Whatever the choice, however, each group should adhere to the main purpose of this Mandala meditation – to link in love, joy and harmony with many existing spiritual traditions, and to knock at their initiatic doors leading to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
The Mandala meditation can be done not only with formulas and mantras but also with music (appropriate to each spiritual tradition), with pictures or with various combinations of these elements. Any time of the day is suitable for performing the meditation but of course the most powerful times are sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. The Mandala meditation can also be done in any place, but obviously sacred places, hills, mountains and the outdoors are preferable. The number of participants may vary from a single person to groups of thousands.
The suggested Mandala meditation, 'Knocking at the doors of the Heavenly Jerusalem' is just one example of a possible Mandala meditation. It is evident that the Mandala of the Heavenly Jerusalem contains an enormous potential for reflection, contemplation and meditation. We can summarise that through Mandala meditations human consciousness will enter a new cosmic spiritual system of co-ordinates. In it will be balance, synchronisation and constructive harmony between all polarities: between heavenly and earthly forces, masculine and feminine Divine energies, micro and macro, inner and outer planes of existence of the human being, between the past, present and future in the spiritual history of humankind, between East and West, North and South in human culture and so forth.
Successful Mandala meditations will result in illumination, transfiguration and self-realisation. In love, joy and ecstasy we will enter into the reality of the Holy City, the 'New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God'. It will appear before us as a living heavenly Mandala illuminated by the great light of all the Divine Masters and their feminine counterparts. In this high state of consciousness we will merge with the universal bodies of the Divine Masters and will receive their initiations in the Temples of the Holy City. Thus the prophetic words will be fulfilled:
Now God's home is with mankind!
He will live with them, and they shall be his people.
God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.
(Revelation 21:3)
The name of the city from now on will be,
"The-Lord-Is-Here!"
(Ezekiel 48:35)
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