How to Offer a Mandala with Mala Beads
Mala & Mudra: a powerful method for accumulating merit
Mandala Offering
A traditional Buddhist practice is to offer a mandala. There are different ways to offer a mandala, here we describe how to offer a mandala mudra using prayer beads around the hands. It is a powerful method for accumulating positive merit, receiving realisations and achieving ultimate happiness.
Offering a mandala symbolically offers the entire universe to the field of merit.
Mandala is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as circle.
The Tibetan word for mandala is kyil-kor:
~ kyil means ‘essence’ or ‘centre’
~ kor means ‘taking hold of’
The essence you take hold of is the path to enlightenment, the cause is merit and the result is enlightenment.
Mala & Mudra:
STEP 1.
Loosely wrap your mala beads around both hands and interlock fingers as shown below
STEP 2.
Bring your fore fingers (1st fingers) towards you & fold over your middle fingers (2nd fingers)
STEP 3.
Bring your thumbs over & press the tips of your smallest fingers (4th fingers)
STEP 4.
Bring your ring fingers together (3rd fingers) & point in an upwards direction
The Merit Field
Visualise
Imagine you are offering the entire universe to the merit field. Offer everything; worlds, planets, desires, possessions and all objects of attachment. Visualise the offerings as precious, made of the best quality materials. According to the Abhidharma – ancient Buddhist texts, the universe is made up of Mount Meru in the centre with four surrounding continents. The 2 ring fingers in the centre represent Mount Meru & the four crossed fingers represent the four continents.
Chant
Short Mandala Offering
“This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers, Adorned with Mount Meru, the four continents, the sun and the moon, I imagine this as a Buddhafield and offer it; May all sentient beings enjoy this Pure Land.”
“Sa zhi pö kyi jug shing me tog tram Ri rab ling zhi nyi dä gyän pa di Sang gyä zhing du mig te ül wa yi Dro kün nam dag zhing la chö par shog”
Idam Guru Ratna Mandalakam Niryatayami
Dedicate
Dedicate the positive energy & merit created by your offering to the benefit of all beings.
