Japanese Mandalas a part of Reiki?
The exhibition “Japanese Mandalas: Emanations and Avatars” remains through Nov. 29 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; (212) 535-7710, metmuseum.org.
If you’re in New York before November 29th enjoy Japanese Mandalas at the MET.
We know that Mikao Usui (the founder of the system of Reiki) was heavily influenced by various traditional Japanese forms including that of Buddhism. Different strains of Buddhism were originally brought across to Japan from China by Dengyo Daishi (767–822) also known as Saicho and Kobo Daishi (774–835AD) also known as Kukai. Saicho began the Tendai school and Kukai that of Shingon. Both Tendai and Shingon forms of Buddhism utilized Mikkyo “secret teachings”. The core of the exhibition is based upon the Mandalas of Both Worlds - paired cosmic diagrams of the Diamond World and the Womb World. These mandalas were both taught in Tendai and Shingon Mikkyo practices.
Did Mikao Usui make use of mandalas in his teachings or in his own personal practice? Come and see what YOU think.
Want to learn more about Japanese mandalas? Here’s some more information for you…
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mandala1.shtml
Or perhaps you would like to make a mandala puzzle?
http://imaginatorium.org/shop/mandala.htm
New York Times article about the exhibition
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/arts/design/17mandalas.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1
The Metropolitan Museum information about the exhibition
http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={01E9B05B-D67C-43AD-84B0-92499586C59B}
