RLG206H5 Study Guide - Final Guide: Rocket Festival, Walpola Rahula, Theravada
Document Summary
Test 1: offering the world-mandala to one"s guru (pp. In tantric buddhism visualization was ritual and ritual was visualization magical meaningful processes that are soteriologically effective. Symbolic gestures (mudras) important features of worship, routine practices, confessing ones fault etc. One practice was making and visualizing offering to ones teacher (or guru) Gurus present in the world and active as guides disciples think of them as embodiments of the. Guru added as fourth refuge to traditional formula of taking refuge in triple gem. Ritual of devotion to ones guru in mandala (circle) Mandala refers to representation of the world the buddhist cosmos consisting of mount meru. Meru surrounded by four continents in middle of great ocean encircled by cosmic fence. Monastics and laypersons carry out ritual small world mandala kits flat metal pan with encircling rings which they construct cosmos by heaping up piles of grain to represent each of the continents while chanting mantras.