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Essence: The common nature of the cosmos
Form: The forms or shapes of objects and living beings
U s a ge : Languages, movements, and the use of all things
Everything in the universe has Essence, Form and Usage.
Our mind divides things into these three aspects when in reality
they do not exist separately. Without one, the other two cannot
exist. Therefore, by examining one aspect we can understand all
three. Even though there are countless creatures existing under
countless forms and qualities in the universe, they all have the
same essence or life force, the core of all things. Without the
Forms, the Essence cannot manifest itself. The Essence and the
Forms represents inaction and action of the unique existence.
The Essence is also Buddha’s nature. Therefore, it is in
every living being and in every form. To realize Buddha’s nature
within oneself and to become one with it, one must first observe
the Forms of the Four Mandalas.
- The Four Mandalas
Mandala means fully rounded, immensely wide and large.
The Four Mandalas represent the myriad of shapes in the infinite
universe manifested by the Six Primary Elements.
A. Maha Mandala, generally speaking, expresses the
whole universe, in which viewed broadly, human beings and all
living things made of the six primary elements, maintain
harmony and interdependence with each other. It is the body of
all beings in the ten directions of the universe, and the outside
appearances of all doctrines. Strictly speaking, it is the majestic