Mandala Art: The Symbol Of The Universe

December 29 2020

art, culture, philosophy, psychology, religion

Humans throughout history have used art as a bridge between their emotions and the outer world. It is the projection of their inner experience with all its complexities and magnificence. One of the popular art forms is the Mandala. Tourists who travel to India notice the beautiful geometrical designs on the walls and the ceilings of temples. Those images are “mandala” which literally translates to “circle” in Sanskrit.

In their most basic form, mandalas are circles contained within a square and arranged into sections that are all organized around a central point. They’re typically produced on paper or cloth, or drawn on surfaces.

Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism and one of their most iconic artworks. Buddhists produced it in Tibet, India, Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, and Indonesia. It dates from the 4th century to the present. These mandalas are highly complex paintings with captivating details and rich colors. However, For Hindus and Buddhists, they are more than artistic designs. A mandala represents a symbol of an ideal universe.

What Is The Significance Of Mandala Designs?

In most cultures, the circle is a symbol of unity, wholeness, and oneness. It also symbolizes the womb, motherhood, and nurturing.

Mandalas are interpreted in two ways: external and internal. Externally it is a visual representation of the universe. The circular designs symbolize the completion and infinity of life. Then there is the dot or the center which is seen as the starting point from which everything begins. The dot is surrounded by different geometrical shapes and patterns symbolizing the connection of the different systems in the universe.

The mandala could also have an internal meaning. For instance, it could represent the spiritual journey of the individual and his inner life. In other words, Mandalas show the unity of the cosmos and how everyone fits in it as a connected system.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the belief is that by moving towards its center, you are going through a transformative process that brings healing into your life.

Different Mandala Types

The Lotus: The lotus flower has a deep significance in Asian cultures. Buddhists view it as a symbol of detachment from the materialistic world and living a more spiritual life. Buddha said that the lotus is an example of how the dirt of the body can not burden the soul just like the lotus that floats on water.

The Elephant: It symbolizes great power and strength. First, there is the grey elephant, which is a sign of the mind that should not be distracted by the suffering, while the white elephant represents the state of true enlightenment that is achieved through mindful meditation.

The Flower Of Life: It features complex geometric designs. These designs trace back to Northern Africa and Mesopotamia. Modern users believe that it is a sacred geometric shape that promotes focus and concentration during meditation.

The Circle: They are the most common form of Mandala and the easiest to draw.

The Different Uses And Types of Mandala:

There are various types of mandala art in Asian cultures, here are some common types that serve different purposes:

1.Teaching Mandala: Teaching mandalas are symbolic, and each shape and color represents a different aspect of a philosophical or religious system. For instance, the student creates their own mandala projecting a visual symbolization of everything they have learned. Teaching mandala designs serve as mental maps for their creators.

2.Sand Mandala: Buddhist monks have long used sand mandalas as a traditional, religious element. These designs use a variety of symbols made from colored sand that represent the impermanence of human life.

The construction of this mandala begins with a ceremony in which the monks consecrate the site and call forth forces of goodness through chants and music. Then, over the course of ten days, the monks will pour colored sand. Shortly after its completion, the monks will disperse the sand to symbolize the impermanence of existence.

3.Healing Mandala: Healing mandala designs are made for the purpose of meditation. Evidently, they evoke calmness and enhance concentration to silence disturbing thoughts and anxiety. In modern days, mandalas have become a popular symbol of meditation used for appreciating the beauty of nature and forming a connection with oneself.

Mandala in Psychology:

The primary use of mandala art is as a form of meditation to gain knowledge from within. Moreover, Buddhists believe that meditating on mandala brings profound inner transformation. Whenever their minds wander with thoughts, they bring their focus back to the center. They believe that the beauty of this geometrical design should absorb their full attention. So this kind of meditation gives more relaxation and centeredness.

Carl Jung, a popular Swiss psychoanalyst, was the first to introduce mandala art to western scholars. He became fascinated by their therapeutic powers. For him, mandala designs represent the psychological self and lead to self-awareness and healing. Moreover, they exhibit the divinity of the self since the circle is a symbol of the wholeness of the psyche. For example, drawing complete designs of Mandalas unconsciously helps individuals with integration and individuation.

Nowadays, people color mandala designs to reduce stress. It also allows expressing the creative side. Drawing Mandala designs became a hobby among art lovers. To reach the full effects, they let their instincts guide them without analysis or following certain rules. The choice of colors and shapes flows naturally.

Mandala Art In Modern Life:

Modern consumerism has linked mandala art to the bohemian lifestyle. So we can find these designs in decoration, fashion, beauty, and other aspects. Elephant mandalas have become extremely popular in Western cultures.

In modern life, people use mandala designs in a variety of ways. In yoga, mandalas represent a sacred space to exclude external influences. Often, Monks and Yoga coaches draw mandalas during meditation. Similarly, Native Americans use it in healing circles, and this act has spread worldwide. The circles are useful for the restoration of the body, mind, and heart. Also, if you look at a Dreamcatcher, which is a popular item that has an Amerindian origin, it also has the shape and patterns of Mandalas.

Mandala Art In Other Cultures:

We can find similar geometrical designs in other cultures like Christian and Islamic architecture. even Native American culture includes similar designs under different names.

Today, they have become so popular worldwide. Consequently, artists are competing to break the records of the most complicated and mesmerizing Mandala designs.

Mandala art is a popular tool for meditation since their designs reduce negative thoughts and bring harmony, but not just for this reason. Ultimately, people create mandalas to center the body and mind.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj

Authenticity, Can We Have An Authentic Life?

July 12 2020

aurthenticity, nietzsche, philosophy

‘’Be yourself’’ or’’ be authentic’’ seems to be common advice and a very encouraged rule in modern life, but what do we mean by ” be yourself”, and is it realistic?

Personal authenticity is a human construct. It is generally defined as being true to yourself without pretense. Following your own standards and living up to your truth. The quest for authenticity is a quest for autonomy. To be the architect of one’s own life without succumbing to cultural conditioning and external factors like social rejection. An inauthentic life, according to the general notion, seems to cause inner conflicts and prevents us from reaching a state of harmony. In this article, I will show the different standpoints regarding authenticity by different philosophers and thinkers who explored this concept.

Who Are we? And How Do We Become Who We Truly Are?

Authenticity is a reflection of the ”self” or the identity, and a lot of thinkers attempted to understand the human mind, with its potentialities and its tendencies. People are generally afraid of delving deep into their minds, for it reveals complex depths they can not be ready to face. So we will start by trying to understand this ”Self” based on Nietzsche’s definition.

Nietzsche was the first to conceive the psyche as constituted of multiple layers and that it is impossible to understand it all. So how can we know ourselves?

If the psyche is a vast limitless territory, is it possible to be ourselves and be ”authentic” while we do not have access to these sides of us? The ability of the human mind to understand cognitive processes or to examine great amounts of information is limited, further leading to an incomplete understanding or an erroneous representation of what is observed or experienced.

Human knowledge always remains incomplete, yet without full awareness, no complete authenticity is attainable, so at any given moment, authenticity can be only partial.

Can We Create Ourselves?

Some philosophers claim that we are absolutely free to create ourselves, but is that possible?

As humans, we can not be fashioned in any way we please. Each one of us has a deep nature that sets limits on who to become. Deep down, there is something unteachable, of a spiritual nature that can not be acquired or transformed.

Nietzsche describes humans as chaos. In contrast to other philosophers who claim that the mind is a unitary device, Nietzsche says that the mind is a multiplicity, an accumulation of intertwined psychological entities. These entities are influenced by life’s experiences and memories, by social conditioning and the traits inherited by our ancestors. According to him, even historical factors influence who we are through the traditions of past cultures that live on within us from the deeper layer of our psyche.

He says that our freedom to create ourselves is limited because of the already existing drives that we can not control. The most general picture of our essence is an association of drives with constant rivalry and particular alliances with each other. He described the human mind as a city in which numerous sub-personalities try to coexist together, so the task according to Nietzsche is to harmonize these opposing drives and impulses and provide coordination. As Nietzche says” to make ourselves, to shape a from various elements, that is the task! The task of a sculptor! Of a productive human being! ”

Authenticity In Different Philosophies

Now that we have introduced the ‘’self’’ we shall explore authenticity from different angles according to some philosophers.

1/ For Jean Jack Rousseau, authenticity is diminished by the need for esteem that is fulfilled by external sources. He argues that personal authenticity comes from within and does not require the approval of others.

2/The existentialist philosopher Martin Heidegger said that authenticity is choosing the nature of one’s existence and identity. He also linked authenticity to an awareness of mortality, since only by keeping in mind one’s inevitable death can one lead a truly authentic life. He said that authenticity and inauthenticity are not exclusive or separate, but they have a complex relationship: They are complementary and interdependent, and we can not disregard external influences because they are natural.

3/Jean-Paul Sartre argued that there is no unchanging essence to the self, but we have a free will that gives us complete freedom to determine our lives from the choices available. According to Sartre, the human being first comes into existence and then continually defines oneself, rather than coming into being with an already given nature. So for Sartre, authenticity requires taking full responsibility for our life, choices, and actions. Therefore the anxiety or ‘angst’ which results from our realization of our own inescapable freedom is an integral part of authentic living. However, it should be emphasized that the individual’s freedom is constrained by nature and society, as well as by their own limitations.

What Are The Limitations Of Full Authenticity?

Some argue that authenticity is impossible to achieve as an ongoing state of being since any real authenticity is hard to maintain indefinitely. Our identity is multidimensional and dynamic, So they will coexist in one individual multiple identities depending on the roles the individual holds in society, including personal, occupational, cultural, ethnic, national, political, and religious identities. The dynamics of identity can be complex and unpredictable.

According to Jung, who was immensely influenced by Nietzche, We have many archetypes in our unconscious that have totally different desires, beliefs, and priorities as if there are other people residing in our psyche. So how can we settle on one definite character? These factors make it hard to identify one stable identity or one ”self.”

Authenticity is supposed to be a reflection of our identity, which can not be measured or defined. Complete authenticity is unattainable. Our feelings, opinions, and habits are always evolving. Personal authenticity involves principles and ideals which are continually reevaluated through self-examination and social interaction, so who is to judge if someone else is being authentic or not?

There are a lot of situations in which we have to compromise our opinions because of priorities. For example, you can not declare your offensive opinions to your boss or you will risk losing your job, so here you are being inauthentic according to the modern standards of authenticity. However, true authenticity isn’t about expressing one’s inner self with its full range of shifting emotions in all situations. Setting priorities and unbiased self-awareness in the present moment are of great importance.

Another factor that can limit our authenticity is our personal filters that prevent objective awareness. Achieving personal authenticity is complicated by the presence of illusions and biases, including self-deception, wishful thinking, and the tendency to behave differently while under observation in social gatherings.

Other factors include one’s prior programming, the fear of rejection and failure, and the social pressure to conform (and thus live inauthentically). In the latter cases, individuals typically try to show their best faces and express what is expected of them so that they will be perceived in a good light. In many situations, the need for collaboration with others may demand some adaptation, that is, some inauthentic compromise. Being under constant observation inhibits authenticity. Thus, politicians, for instance, cannot be authentic, since they always have to appear confident and nearly flawless.

Another limitation is related to the language used, which is open to misinterpretation, and words and language are inadequate for expressing the full spectrum of one’s thoughts and feelings. In addition, words and sentences are often ambiguous, having more than one possible meaning. A completely clear language with a direct and evident correspondence between thoughts and words does not exist. Sometimes individuals do not even understand themselves, so it definitely sets limits to authenticity.

What Can We Conclude?

So we can define authenticity as an individualistic and continuous mission that differs from one to another and does not follow a defined set of rules since it is always contextual. The question that we can ask here is: is authenticity possible, or even desirable? The question is possibly misleading as it implies an absolute yes or no answer, and does not give space to any possibility of ‘partial authenticity’. This leads us toward an interpretation of the concept of authenticity as an absolute, which is unrealistic.

These philosophical views on personal authenticity vary, but there is a common theme of personal authenticity as a dynamic process of endless becoming in a changing society and world, rather than a fixed state of being. We can conclude that authenticity and inauthenticity should not be considered as mutually exclusive states, but rather as mutually dependent concepts. Due to the imperfection of humans, absolute authenticity is not attainable. Partial and realistic authenticity isn’t about expressing one’s inner self with its full range of shifting emotions in all situations. Setting priorities and unbiased self-awareness in the present moment are of great importance.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

Soruces:

Nietzche:

Ecce Homo

The Free Will

Beyond Good And Will

The Gay Science

The Dawn Of Day

Dr Ben G. Yacobi

‘’Philosophy Now’ 2012’

The Seven Types of Love for Ancient Greeks

May 17 2020

Greek, love, philosophy

When people hear the word love, the first notion that comes to their minds is romantic love.

However, love is a broad term and is not exclusively for romance, because it has been there since the beginning of humanity. Romantic love specifically is far from being timeless and universal as we may think. The modern idea of love has been influenced by novels and romanticism.

We know that love is not that narrow since we express it with family, friends, and partners. That is why we have different contexts for love. Greeks were the first to create special terms to help distinguish between these types of love instead of utilizing one general term in different contexts.

Eros “Romantic, Passionate Love”

Eros means passion and lust. It is somehow the ”love of the body” because it is driven by attraction and sexual longing. It is the desire and the obsession that couples have for each other in the first phase of their relationship or the ‘’honeymoon phase.’’ It increases the hormones of love in the brain which causes the addiction. This type of love out of the rest is the closest construct to our modern definition of romantic love. In Greek mythology, it is a form of madness brought about by one of Cupid’s arrows. Greeks have feared this kind of love because its power could be destructive. Even Cupid in greek mythology was pictured blindfolded to show how blind it is.

Modern philosophers like A.Schopenhauer described it as the force behind survival and reproduction. Unfortunately, this spark does not last when the couple starts seeing each other’s flaws. The relationship either ends or grows into something less passionate but more meaningful.

Philia ”Authentic Friendship”

It is the intimate connection between two souls that goes way deeper than Eros. It is built on shared values, trust, and authenticity. Philia is when you can be yourself in front of the other without fear of judgment or abandonment. It is described as friendship regardless of whether it is with a close friend or a romantic partner. For Plato, the best kind of friendship is that which lovers have for each other. It is a Philia born out of Eros, which transforms from lust and obsession into a shared desire for a higher level of understanding of the self, the other, and the world. It is what we usually refer to as the ‘’soulmate connection’’ in movies and books, that one person who gets you and knows you well.

Ludus ”Flirtatious love”

Ludus is infatuation and flirtation, just like having a crush and acting on it. It is casual and based on fun, whether it’s flirting, dancing, engaging in sexual activities, with no strings attached and completely free of passion, depth, and the obligations of Eros and Philia. Problems arise when one person mistakes Ludus for Eros which makes things more complicated for the other person since this confusion brings unwanted attachments.

Storge ”Unconditional Family Love”

It is the natural, effortless love between parents and their children or family members in general. We love our family members in spite of their mistakes or the things that we do not like about them. Storge is driven by a sense of belonging so we can even describe it as a feeling of patriotism towards a country or a clan. It differs from Philia because it could be one sided from mothers towards their children, because young children still have not developed the capacity to love unconditionally, so their bond is built on fulfilling their needs. Also, instead of emerging from personal qualities like Eros and Philia, it could be based on nothing but dependency and familiarity.

People in the early stages of romantic relationships expect this kind of unconditional love, but they only face the dependency of Eros or the understanding of Philia. With time, Eros may turn into Storge given the right conditions and maturity so it only comes with familiarity after Eros is gone and Philia is developed.

Agape ”Selfless Universal Love”

It is the love that one gives without expecting anything in return. It includes the love of God, nature, people and even strangers. Agape is best embodied in charitable acts, for example, because it is derived from empathy and altruism. Agape gives us satisfaction and happiness and enriches us psychologically and socially because when you act upon it, you expect no rewards from people. This sort of love is the foundation of great communities and high levels of well-being.

Pragma ”Committed Love”

It is the love that develops over a long period of commitment. It favors mutual long term interests and compatibility over sexual attraction because the couple honor and respect their differences without having unrealistic or idealistic expectations. Pragma is common in arranged marriages, for example, even when the couple do not start with Eros or Philia, we can see Pragma flourishing because of the commitment and familiarity.

Over time, romantic relationships ( if successful ) turn from Eros and Ludus to Pagma and Storge and could have different variations. It is everlasting love and more realistic than Eros and Ludus, so it is the highest form of love.

Philautia ”Self-love”

Philautia is self-love, which could be healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy love is the selfish and narcissistic one and it is akin to Hubris. In ancient Greek, people would be accused of Hubris if they place themselves higher than Gods. It is pleasure and fame-seeking.

There is also healthy self-love that is necessary for self-growth because it reinforces self-esteem and our own self-worth. It is different from selfishness. People in their daily use of language tend to mistake self-esteem with self-confidence but they do not always go together. Someone could be self-confident yet has low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem is internal and has nothing to do with external factors that increase self-confidence like money, status, and fame.

All these types of love are important and experiencing them in life is necessary for growth even if some of them are not long-lasting. We may experience them all, or maybe just a couple of them, but they are all relatable. It is crucial to make the difference between them especially when it comes to Eros and Pragma in order to avoid confusion. Understanding these types of love helps with emotional maturity and acceptance towards one’s self and the others.

References:

Plato, Lysis.

Plato, Phaedrus.

Plato, Symposium.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethic X.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

Pondering on Free Will

March 31 2020

free will, philosophy

The question of whether a person is free to make their own choices or merely under the illusion of possessing such freedom and simply following their biological instincts has been debated since the dawn of humanity. However, I will not even attempt to resolve this question with what little knowledge I possess. I simply wish to give my own views on the matter as yet another drop into the sea of discussion this subject has accumulated throughout history.

Have you ever asked yourself if your actions are truly your own? If they are, then why do you regret them even if you were completely aware of their consequences? It is considered an accepted fact that we as humans lose control of ourselves in moments of anger. This is easily supported by both statistics [1] and the number of people voluntarily taking anger management courses. But this leads us to question whether anger is exceptional in its ability to strip us from our conscious control over ourselves or perhaps it shares this ability with other sensations.

I personally tend to believe the latter option as anger is only an extreme case that only seems exceptional because of the feeling of regret that follows it. I seek to bring forward the idea that all sensations cause a loss of control over ourselves even if it occurs to a lesser degree. My claim is not a solid fact and I never intended it to be one. But we need to ask ourselves whether we have truly made a choice if we cannot even recall any ponderings on the options at hand but merely impulses.

My view is that more often than not, our choices are made for us based upon our predispositions. But this assumption does not necessarily dictate that our free will is an illusion. According to my own personal introspection, these tendencies stem from our subconscious, as it is the source of our desires and feelings. Therefore, our free choices are not the ones made in the midst of the moments of our everyday lives as we get overwhelmed with emotions. In those situations, we merely find ourselves following our impulses. Our true free choices are those made in our moments of solitude and contemplation. This can be seen through the emphasis many religions and schools of philosophy offer to contemplating one’s sins and acts of virtue.

I suspect that we do not directly choose our actions but we choose the tendencies that govern them. It follows that our subconscious acts as a buffer between our conscious will and our actions. In other words, we indirectly control our actions by conditioning our subconscious as we slowly adjust our tendencies and struggle against our desires. This has led me to believe that the judgments we assign to our actions in retrospect are more important than the actions themselves. As our subconscious is conditioned through remorse or satisfaction.

This idea can be seen in how watching a motivational speech or a convincing debate does not change any long-held views. People do not simply get swayed in an instant. They require to be slowly nudged by an idea, to be surrounded by it. So that it could eventually become capable of swaying their subconscious and shifting their nature. Afterward, a moment of clarity or some event makes the final push towards a different attitude.

This idea, in my view, explains the unreasonable dichotomy between the heart and the mind. I would as far as to say it explains how we have chosen our love, displeasure, admiration, and even trust in things all around us, by slowly conditioning our subconscious one judgment at a time. This is the idea of how we slowly shape our personalities with the choices we make in our hours of solitude.

Author: Wail Rimouche.

Stoicism: A Timeless Life Philosophy

February 22 2020

Marcus Aurelius, meditations, philosophy

In life, humans have been fighting the different factors around them that caused negative feelings like fear, irritation, failure, and despair and that has not changed since the beginning of humanity. The new technology and modern life with all that it offers could not liberate humans from these aspects of life. This dilemma drove one of the greatest emperors of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, to write his diary that survived against all odds of two millenniums. Because the lessons that it presents to this issue are still applicable nowadays. Especially that life is getting more complicated with the materialistic development of the new world. This book is ‘’Meditations.’’ It prompts the readers to review their relationship with themselves, the others, God and life itself.

The Philosopher Emperor and The Book of Life:

Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of the greatest civilization back in 180 AD: the Roman civilization. He is the only historical figure that was introduced as an emperor and a philosopher. He proved the theory of Plato that every ruler has to be a philosopher to succeed. In spite of his daily duties and personal problems, he managed to keep a diary. Surprisingly, he did not intend to publish it, but just as a means to keep reminding himself of the rules and principles that he learned through life. Little did he know that these instructions would remain till the 21st century and inspire lots of other people in their lives including myself. His diary was published as” Meditations”.

This book constitutes the bedrock of what is known as Stoicism or the philosophy of indifference. It is an ancient philosophy that was one of the most popular disciplines in the West. Practiced by both the rich and the poor, the kings and the slaves in the pursuit of The Good Life. I was impressed to know that great historical figures like George Washington, Emmanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, etc. I have followed this philosophy that defeated the frames of time and place.

How Can We Attain Peace Of Mind?

When you go through the different passages and pages, you can sense how Marcus was addressing himself. So his words were genuine, realistic and show a level of wisdom that a lot of preceding emperors could not attain. He did not utilize complex terms or deep philosophical notions, but simple and relatable words of truth that we all could understand if we open our minds and hearts. Each quote made me stop and think about how compatible it is with my life. I was personally influenced by this philosophy. It encouraged me to delve myself into introspection. It taught me how to meditate on my thoughts and behaviors towards different matters.

Meditations made me grasp the fact that I have no control over anything external in my life, not my body, not calamities, not how people judge me. The only thing I can control is the way I perceive those things like he said: ” If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” that was helpful with dealing with anxiety and stress.

Through his pages I learned to be present at the moment, for the past is already gone, and the future has not come yet. They are both a result of human thoughts so why worry about it? We only live once, and the future that we anticipated yesterday is ”now” so why do we keep escaping it? As he said: ” Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it if you have to, which the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present”.

The Subjective Perception Is Not Reality

He praised gratitude and highlighted a very important idea which is our judgmental nature. We are too oblivious to the fact that we filter life through our own opinions and judgments without observing it for what it is in reality. According to him, whatever happens in life is neutral, but the way we respond to it depends on our subjective view. For instance, Some may see hardships as a negative experience that would make their lives miserable and fall into the victim trap. While others may view them as a positive experience, a challenge, or a test from God…etc

Marcus states that it is misleading to label anything in life as positive or negative. Instead, we should observe it the way it is and react to it based on virtue and honesty. As I quote:” Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” So the only thing we can do is to alter the way we see and react to life, then everything will change accordingly, just as he said:” You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.’’

Follow Your Virtuous Nature

In addition to many other important lessons mentioned in the book, he emphasized the most important rule: virtue and nature. He helped me answer a question that baffled me for a long time: what is the meaning of life? Marcus simply answers that by Nature. He argues that humans are naturally virtuous and they should pursue this characteristic no matter what. To subside to their nature that requires them to work and do their duties for the common good. And get rid of laziness, selfishness, and fear of life and death. To seek honesty and authenticity, to do good and avoid vices and live in peace with one another.

This may seem Utopian, but it is indeed realistic if we think about it thoroughly. It is also mentioned in most religions in spite of the fact that ”Meditations” did not hold a religious or conceptual theme. Stoicism is a practical philosophy that people with different ideologies and beliefs could apply.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.