Mandala of the Larger Amida Sutra
Status: MODERATED
Grade Level: 7, 8, High School, Young Adult, Adult
Keywords: Larger Amida Sutra, Pureland Buddhism
Objective:
After this lesson, the student will know one portion of the Mandala
Materials:
Pictures of Amida Sutra Mandalas from the internet
Large (3x3 feet) pieces of paper (depending on class size you might need 2x sheets)
Color markers or other drawing pens
Copies of Larger Amida Sutra
Preparation:
Make copies of the Larger Amida Sutra
Prepare drawing/writing materials
Method:
Opening Gassho
Introduction
Early Mahayana and Pure Land monks often made illustrations of the sutras to assist monks in visualizing. In fact, this was consider (after copying the texts themselves) a very meritorious practice.
Today, we will also create a visualization or a Mandala
Sometimes, mandalas were done on paper, other times, on walls, sometimes in sand to symbolize the neverending change.
Mandalas were geometric and were tools to help memorize/visualize the Sutra
Mandala
Have the students decide which section to illustrate
Have the students choose the overall designer
Divide the sheet to geometric portions (squares, rings, triangles) depending on the section
Have the students decide who is working on which section and the overall design for each section.
Design in pencil
Color parts
Start and close the work session with Gassho.
When completed, all students should sign the back.
Discuss how it felt, what was memorable
Closing Gassho
Evaluation:
Discussion
Note:
The completed mandala can be:
Framed & presented to the Temple.
Shredded and burned as a lesson in impermanence.
This lesson most likely will be multiple sessions.
Author:
Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.dot.com, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 2015