Topic: Tibetan Mandalas
| Time | Days | Location | Instructor | GER | Credit | OPUS Class Number | Syllabus (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2:30pm-5:30pm | Tu | Kjelgaard, Julia Dee. Negi, Satya. McClintock, Sara. | 4 | 3692 | TBA. |
The mandala is an ancient sacred art form that is used as a spiritual tool. Its philosophical and psychological meaning is expressed through its rich symbolism. Some of the earliest forms of mandalas are found in ancient Indian spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, while the most elaborate forms emerged with the development of Buddhist tantra. This course will focus primarily on the mandalas of Tibetan Buddhism.
Mandalas are constructed in various mediums, including paint, sand, wood and metal. More recently, “living mandalas”, which incorporate or build upon the natural landscape, are being constructed. In the Spring of 2012, Emory University and the Michael C. Carlos Museum will co-host a mandala exhibit that will feature various types of mandalas as well as various lectures and workshops on the significance and construction of the mandala. Oglethorpe University will also host a mandala exhibit based on the works of psychoanalyst Carl Jung.
With these events in mind, this course has been designed to introduce students to the philosophical, psychological and spiritual significance of the mandala. Students will also learn to construct a mandala under the guidance of a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Drepung Loseling Monastery. Under the guidance of professors from Emory’s Visual Arts Department and the Creativity and the Arts Initiative, students will also participate in the construction of Emory’s very own living mandala.
The presence of a major exhibition on the mandala at Emory is the occasion for this very special course. Students will spend time in the galleries and meet a variety of visiting scholars. The class is limited to 12 to allow for maximum learning in the hands-on phases of the course.
Potential readings include:
Bryant, Barry. The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala: Visual Scripture of Tibetan Buddhism.
Crossman, Sylvie and Barou, Jean-Pierre. Tibetan Mandala, Art & Practice The Wheel of Time.
Tsenshap, Kirti. Principles of Buddhist Tantra
Tucci, Giuseppe. The Theory and Practice of the Mandala
*Additional supplemental readings to be posted on Blackboard.
The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.