Yes, traditionally, often people practice in groups and work together in groups. That's an example of the so called "mandala principle". And different members of the mandala may have different attributes and capabilities which help it to function well together. Which is something you also get in every situation of course, whenever you have social groupings, so same in Buddhist contexts.
And, I don't know the details, but remember my teacher talking about situations where an entire group of people in such a mandala, working together, also all become enlightened together in a moment.
Also, individually, we are also a mandala of a sort.
And one person can sometimes be reborn as several people in the Tibetan traditions.
Suggests that we are not so walled off from each other as we think, and that things are a little more fluid than we realize. Though at the same time, it doesn't mean that it is just a general hodge podge where everyone is the same and there is no individuality.
This is in the rather esoteric Tibetan traditions. I'm not sure what the Therevadhans say about this, but they also of course have mandalas, groups of people working together. Whenever you have people working together, you get these mandalas. Just don't know if they use the word mandala and these concepts to describe what is going on.
Also they say that when you become enlightened, no longer caught in our strict linear time and space way of looking at things, you see all other beings as Buddha. So in that sense, whenever someone becomes Buddha, then everyone does, from their perspective, if I understand it right.
And, I don't know the details, but remember my teacher talking about situations where an entire group of people in such a mandala, working together, also all become enlightened together in a moment.
Also, individually, we are also a mandala of a sort.
And one person can sometimes be reborn as several people in the Tibetan traditions.
Suggests that we are not so walled off from each other as we think, and that things are a little more fluid than we realize. Though at the same time, it doesn't mean that it is just a general hodge podge where everyone is the same and there is no individuality.
This is in the rather esoteric Tibetan traditions. I'm not sure what the Therevadhans say about this, but they also of course have mandalas, groups of people working together. Whenever you have people working together, you get these mandalas. Just don't know if they use the word mandala and these concepts to describe what is going on.
Also they say that when you become enlightened, no longer caught in our strict linear time and space way of looking at things, you see all other beings as Buddha. So in that sense, whenever someone becomes Buddha, then everyone does, from their perspective, if I understand it right.
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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