Diamond Realm Mandala

Kongōkai Mandala 金剛界曼荼羅こんごうかいまんだら

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W 西
S 南
four seals assembly
Four Seals Assembly
四印会
one seal assembly
One Seal Assembly
一印会
guiding principle assembly
Guiding Principle Assembly
理趣会
offerings assembly
Offerings Assembly
供養会
perfeced body assembly
Perfected Body Assembly
成身会
conqueror of three worlds assembly
Conqueror of the Three Worlds Assembly
降三世会
subtle assembly
Subtle Assembly
微細会
sammaya assembly
Sammaya Assembly
三昧耶会
gozanze sammaya assembly
Gōsanze Sammaya Assembly
降三世三昧耶会
N 北
E 東

The Mandala as Journey

Traditionally, there are two ways that the Diamond Realm Mandala is observed. Each of these can be understood as a journey through the various sections, or assemblies, that make up the entire mandala.

In the first and more common "route," the observer begins with the central section, the "Perfected Body Assembly" and then moves down and then clockwise through the remaining sections.

animated GIF showing the prescribed movement through the sections of the mandala
Animation showing the most common "route" through the mandala

Replay

This movement takes the observed from the source of truth through its several manifestations following the path of Buddhist teachings.

The second "route" begins in the lower right Gosanze Sammaya-e and proceeds counterclockwise to the Sammaya-e after which it reaches the central Perfected Body Assembly.