Buddhism Mandala Project /40 what is a mandala?

Name:_____________________________________

Buddhism Mandala Project ______/40

WHAT IS A MANDALA?

“The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational 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.

Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community.“ www.mandalaproject.org

"Mandala, in general, means that which extracts the essence. There are many usages of the term mandala according to context. One type of mandala is the offering of the entire world system, with the major and minor continents mentally constructed, to high beings. Also, there are painted mandalas, mandalas of concentration, those made out of colored sand, mandalas of the conventional mind of enlightenment, and so forth. Because one can extract a meaning from each of these through practicing them, they are all called mandalas.”

"Although we might call these pictures and constructed depictions mandalas, the main meaning is for oneself to enter into the mandala and extract an essence in the sense of receiving blessing. It is a place of gaining magnificence. Because one is gaining a blessing and thereupon developing realizations it is called an extraction or assumption of something essential."— from The Dalai Lama, A Policy of Kindness
WHAT IS YOUR TASK?

Create a mandala that demonstrates understanding of the key concepts of Buddhism. You may use words and/or images – Be Creative! Make sure your Mandala includes the basic beliefs including but not limited to:

• 
  The Wheel of Law
  
• 
  The Eightfold Path
  
• 
  The Four Noble Truths
  
• 
  The Five Precepts
  
• 
  Key Vocabulary/events/ideas
  

Topic	Advanced	Proficient	Basic	Below Basic	Total
General Content	Your content is substantial and specific. Your information includes sophisticated ideas and elaborates on the main points. It demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of Buddhism. 15-14	Your content is sufficient. Your main ideas are supported with accurate facts and information. Your page demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of Buddhism. 13-12	Your content is sufficient and demonstrates a basic understanding of Hinduism with little or no elaboration or support for your main points. 11-10	Your content is limited and does not show a basic understanding of Hinduism. 9-0
Required Content The Wheel of Law The Eightfold Path The Four Noble Truths The Five Precepts Key Vocab	Your mandala included all of the required content. 20-19	Your mandala included most of the required content. 18-17	Your mandala included some of the required content. 16-12	Your mandala did not include the required content. 11-0
Conventions	Your mandala is relatively free of grammatical and mechanical errors. 5	Your mandala has just a few grammatical and mechanical errors. 4	Your mandala has several grammatical and mechanical errors. 3	Your mandala has many grammatical and mechanical errors. 2-0
Comments:					____/40