Mar162025

By Dr. E.S. Krishnamoorthy

Over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha offered humanity a roadmap to understanding and overcoming suffering. Though his words were initially passed down through generations of monks and students in an oral tradition, the first written records only appeared 500 years after his death. Yet, his teachings remain strikingly relevant, cogent, and cohesive.
At the heart of his philosophy lies the concept of dukkha—a state of dissatisfaction or suffering, which arises not only from pain but from desire, impermanence, and the illusion of self.

The Four Noble Truths: A Framework for Freedom

In the Deer Park at Isipatana, near Varanasi, the Buddha first shared his core teachings with five bhikkhus (monks). He outlined what we now know as the Four Noble Truths—the essence of Buddhist thought.

The First Noble Truth: All is suffering.
We are constantly in a state of want—wanting happiness, success, love, permanence. But even when we get what we want, we fear losing it. This constant craving for permanence in an impermanent world gives rise to our suffering.

The Second Noble Truth: The origin of suffering is thirst.
This thirst, or tanha, is a deep longing—be it for pleasure, security, or even the urge to fix something. As poet W.H. Auden put it, it is an “incurable neural hitch.” From lust and greed to noble ambitions, this longing remains at the heart of our unease.

To understand this, we must step away from the Western concept of the ego—a clearly defined self—and embrace the Buddhist idea that the self is illusory. We imagine ourselves as observers, standing apart from life, when in fact, we are all immersed in the same illusion. Anatta (no-self) and anicca (impermanence) are central concepts in Buddhist philosophy.

The Third Noble Truth: Suffering can be overcome.
Freedom from dukkha is possible by extinguishing thirst. This liberation is nirvana—not a place, but a state of mind. The Buddha never defined nirvana in terms of sensory pleasure; he only described it as the release of a heavy burden, the cessation of craving, the end of illusions.

The Fourth Noble Truth: There is a path to this freedom.
The Eightfold Path is the way out of suffering. It’s not a linear sequence but a comprehensive practice divided into three essential elements:

  • Wisdom (Prajna): Right understanding and right thought
  • Ethical Conduct (Sila): Right speech, right action, and right livelihood
  • Mental Discipline (Samadhi): Right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration
The Buddha also warned us of five hindrances that obstruct this path: sensual desire, ill will, laziness, restlessness, and doubt.
What stands out in all of this is the Buddha’s rationality and humility. He denied the need for eternal followership. “I am like the raft,” he said, “use me to cross the river, but do not carry me when you reach the other side.”

The Mandala: A Spiritual Mirror of the Mind

Why then do we speak of the mandala in your mind?
The mandala, a Sanskrit term meaning “circle,” is a spiritual symbol representing the universe, used extensively in Hinduism and Buddhism. Entering a mandala and moving toward its center is symbolic of a journey toward wholeness, healing, and enlightenment.
There are different types of mandalas:
  • Teaching Mandalas: Represent philosophical systems through color and form
  • Healing Mandalas: Intuitive, calming, and used for meditative focus
  • Sand Mandalas: Intricate and impermanent, they emphasize the transience of life
Symbolism within the mandala is profound:
  • The center dot is the beginning of contemplation
  • The eight-spoked wheel echoes the Eightfold Path
  • The bell symbolizes openness and wisdom
  • Triangles denote energy (upward) and creativity (downward)
  • The lotus flower speaks of spiritual awakening
  • The sun reflects life and the universe
Though mandalas are used in rituals, meditation, yoga, and healing spaces, they are more than just visual tools—they are cognitive maps for spiritual transformation. When we create or contemplate a mandala, we circle inward, not outward.

Circling Inward: A Path to Mental Wellbeing

We chose to reflect on the mandala in the mind as a metaphor for our internal journeys, especially relevant in these challenging times for mental health. Buddhism teaches that recognizing impermanence makes suffering irrelevant. By rooting out attachment, we release ourselves from the bondage of dukkha.

Swami Vivekananda captured this beautifully when he distinguished between pravritti (circling outward) and nivritti (circling inward). True peace, he said, begins with the inward journey.

So on this occasion—perhaps a Buddha Purnima, or simply a moment of reflection—I invite you to contemplate your own mandala. Not just as a sacred symbol, but as a living metaphor in your mind.
May we all find the courage to turn inward, transcend suffering, and walk the path toward peace.
If you enjoyed this reflection, do listen to the podcast episode and share it with others who might benefit. And may the mandala in your mind guide you toward clarity and compassion.

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