Meditating with Mandalas: 52 New Mandalas to Help You Grow in Peace and Awareness [Paperback]

David Fontana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2006

Mandalas are highly decorative, symmetrical diagrams used as a focal point in meditation. Using fresh interpretations of traditional symbolism, the 52 beautiful mandalas here are specially devised for modern minds and are completely accessible, even to a beginner. Each mandala is rendered in a full-page color illustration and is accompanied by guided, easy-to-use meditation instructions that explain the symbolism of the design and how each mandala is relevant to a modern meditator. Together, these mandalas provide a year's worth of meditation, ranging in topics from finding the core of peace within oneself to tapping the well-being inherent in love. An authoritative introduction looks at the history of mandalas and outlines the ways in which they can be used in the practice of meditation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Duncan Baird (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844831175
• ISBN-13: 978-1844831173
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #859,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous! Beautiful and inspiring., January 27, 2005

By 

drariadne (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meditating with Mandalas: 52 New Mandalas to Help You Grow in Peace and Awareness (Paperback)

This isn't a book of blank mandalas to color. Instead, this is 52 different mandalas already printed in color for meditation. A short discussion of each mandala and some ideas of what to notice and think about are included for each picture. Some of the madalas are traditional ones we are already acquainted with, and some are modern interpretations of ideas in mandala form.

They are all beautiful, and one could use this book in many ways. With 52 mandalas, one could cycle through them, giving each a week, either in order or randomly. Or find a favorite that matches your mood of the day. Stick with one till you are tired of it and move on at your own speed. Who knows?

I love looking through each of them. To be honest, I also use their colors as inspiration for coloring my own mandalas I have bought from other books.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful mandalas and highly useful content, July 13, 2005

By 

S. Hathaway (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meditating with Mandalas: 52 New Mandalas to Help You Grow in Peace and Awareness (Paperback)

In "Meditating with Mandalas," David Fontana talks about how you can incorporate your experience of meditation with mandalas into your everyday life. You can better realize love and practice kindness as well. Prior to reading this book, I did not understand the point of mandalas, and I have read other books on the subject. What really attracted me to the book was its original, colorful and intriguing mandalas. These are not typical mandalas one may be accustomed to seeing. Some include dolphins, an octopus, a waterfall, and a water garden. A truly beautiful book of mandalas that makes sense of this meditation practice. I highly recommend it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation, Mandalas and Musing..., April 13, 2006

By 

Rose Glavas (Kilmore, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meditating With Mandalas (Hardcover)

Without knowing what a mandala is, or even what the book is about it is difficult to resist admiring the fabulous illustrations in this book. The urge to look at every single illustration is strong once you open this book at any page! So I have to agree with the blurb and say that the illustrations are truly superb (not to mention inspiring!).

Those of you who don't know what a mandala will need to know that these are highly decorative, symmetrical designs used as a focal point in meditation. In the Eastern tradition mandalas are often charged with an intricate religious symbolism based on representations of the cosmos. In `Meditating with Mandalas' they are designed to appeal to Westerners. Some are based on traditional Tibetan mandalas, while others are inspired by nature. All are designed to be used even by those who are new to meditating.

The author, Professor David Fontana has been involved with meditation for more than 30 years and has produced many publications. One these is the bestselling `Leant to Meditate' which has been translated into 25 languages.

`Meditating with Mandalas' is broken up into two sections: `Introduction' and then `Sacred Patterns'. The introduction is then further divided into subsections with many interesting headings - the following ones caught my eye: Stilling Body and Mind; Experiencing Stillness; How Mandalas Work; Patterns in Nature; The Self and Self Acceptance; Symbols of Love; Making Your Own Mandala; Symbolism.

The Mandalas themselves are broken up into six different sections: Sacred Patters; Nature; Self and Acceptance; Kindness and Love; Inner Strength; and Cosmos. Each of the mandalas is given a whole page of excellent quality illustration, with the facing page giving a description and ideas on how to use them. Each mandala and its instructions are unique.

If this is your first step in your exploration of mandalas and/or meditation then the author has given a list of suggested further reading, as well as providing an index and picture credits (what a great idea!). There is a general index and also an index to the symbols used, which is great if you are looking for a focus for a particular meditation you would like to try.

Personally I have been interested in meditation for many years but held a narrow view of what it actually was, so have not tried the alternative forms available. Through exploring this book I have discovered a method that I believe will help me to actually achieve a meditative state successfully.

I like the suggestion the author makes to start with a five minute meditation (for beginners) and to work up to a longer session that suits you - say twenty or thirty minutes. For some reason I thought that a session had to be at least twenty minutes long.

I would recommend `Meditating with Mandalas' for people like me who need a focus for a session of meditation (that is, of course, if you can tear yourself away from the fabulous illustrations long enough to meditate!). This book would suit anyone who is interested in either mandalas or meditation.