Cool Stuff

When we were discussing about the Native Americans, the one that struck me most was the picture of the sand paintings. They seemed like mandalas to me. I knew that mandalas are usually associated with Buddhism and Hinduism. So I was astonished to see an American Indian sand painting that looks like a mandala.

Here is a definition of “Mandala” from this website: (I also recommend you to visit this site and read it. It says some interesting things about mandala patterns.)

http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html

“The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community. ”

I’ve read the website and I actually found out that the ones I saw in class were Navajo mandalas.

Here are some pictures of a mandalas by Buddhist monks:

Here are examples of Navajo mandalas:

Aren't they somewhat similar? And don't they share the same concepts about life?

Next Item: Native American Music with Native American pictures.

Here’s the web address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Y4kpZ7xQk&feature=related

If you look at the right corner, on the uploader, click more info and you’ll see the lyrics and the translation.


Next Item: Thumb Piano (African Instrument)

Here's a picture:

Here's the web address of a video of a person playing it:

It's Pachelbel's Canon played on a kalimba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPeDx5CW1aQ&feature=related

ENJOY!