After contemplating Chapter 4 of the Tao te Ching, this is the resulting mandala. As I worked, different thoughts would come to me, even as my mind stilled:
Emptiness Mandala – the Infinite
When I read this chapter, I immediately understood how the Tao could be “infinite.” That concept heavily influenced this mandala. I knew I would create some sort of illusion of infinity, though I had no idea how. Even as I understand something to BE infinite, I don’t think there is any concrete understanding of what infinity is.
Change Happens
We all live on linear timelines, with nothing lasting forever. Change always happens. We strive to stay in our comfort zones, but life has a way of pushing you out of it when you least expect it. Infinity implies no beginning and no end. The Tao is like a universal source: it’s always existed and will continue to exist into infinitude. I think ancient humans understood this concept better than humans do today.
Tapping into the Source
With our ever-changing distractions, we don’t remember that infinity – Source – exists within us. I think that part of the human experience is understanding how to tap Source to find our truest selves. Until we figure out how to be comfortable with earthly infinity – silence – we will remain separate from our truest self. Only when we do the inner work can we begin to understand the depth of infinity that we actually are.