Comments on: The Taima Mandala

By: Jon Ciliberto

Jon Ciliberto — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:00:13 +0000

Thanks for this post, which I am linking on my site.

Please forward my thanks to Dr. Inagaki — I am always pleased to consult his Dictionary. (The email address on his site is non-functioning).

Jon C.

By: Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:29:51 +0000

Hi Stephen, Rev. Inagaki’s site has closeups of each section of the Mandala. I think you’re referring to this:

http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/tai-a4.htm

Am I close?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:33:20 +0000

This Mandala absolutely dumbfounded me the first time I saw it. It is truely amazing – I suppose we all have something to look forward to.
A question that I have not found the answer to though is (although it cannot be seen in the picture you have):
In the centre is Amida, at the bottom is there is a depiction of playing various musical instruments and dancing. in between there is a pond where the various rebirths are depicted. In between the Amida and the dancing, in the pond there is a small dark figure (black to be precise), who is it???
When I first saw this Mandala I was enthralled as I figured out this was the Meditation Sutra in a picture. But this was the only thing I couldn’t fathom.
Stephen
(JBTW the Taima Mandala’s popularity has a lot to do with Shoku Shonin’s influence)