PUZZLE IN TIN - Mandala Buddha of Compassion

Mandala of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion The Tibetan word for mandala, dkyil-khor, literally means 'that which encircles a centre.' A mandala is the celestial residence of a meditational deity. The structure of the palace models that of ancient Indian palaces. Avalokiteshvara (tib.: Chenrezig) is the Buddhist deity who personifies the virtue of compassion. The goal of the mandala is to serve as a tool on our spiritual journey. It's like a map that leads the practitioner to enlightenment. Each aspect of the constructed mandala has deep meaning. The doorways on all four directions represent the Four Immeasurable Thoughts: love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The lotus flower in the centre of the mandala represents the Lotus Family, one of the five Buddha families. The thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara is represented in the centre of the mandala by the seed syllable Hri. This syllable is the sound emanation of Avalokiteshvara. To protect the mandala from negative energies and conditions, it is surrounded by a vajra fence and a fire wall.