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Mandala and the Flat Earth Rebellion
Wherever you, the observer, are, precisely there lies the center of the universe, and the entire field of your experience extends from that point.
This is the principle of "Kyil Khor" (དཀྱིལ་འཁོར།), the Tibetan term for mandala, where Kyil represents the center—the observer—and Khor represents the periphery.
The idea of "objectivity" or "objective reality" is just this: an idea. And like all ideas, it belongs to the periphery of experience—not the other way around.
This stands in stark contrast to so-called "scientific objectivity," which often preaches the insignificance of subjective experience in general and humanity's insignificance in the universe, particularly in light of astronomical discoveries initiated by figures such as Copernicus. This contradiction creates a profound sense of discomfort for those who contemplate such matters. It feels counter-intuitive and contradicts our lived experience.
Some push back against this "objectivity," often using religion as refuge. The most extreme manifestation of such rejection may be the belief in a "flat earth"—perhaps the very apex of "anti-science" sentiment, representing a desperate rebellion against one-dimensional, cold scientism.
Proponents of this idea feel diminished by a worldview that presents the infinite nature of the universe as direct proof of their personal insignificance—a valid concern, as this narrative of insignificance is sometimes actively promoted by the scientific community itself.
It is crucial to first understand the deeper motives of those one attempts to debate with, rather than ridiculing them or misrepresenting their positions. The yearning for centrality of subjective experience, after all, isn't trivial—it's fundamental.
The concept of mandala isn't just wishy-washy spiritual imagery—random geometric patterns vaguely giving "spiritual vibes." It's an extremely powerful framework. It can serve as a direct and valid antidote to the nihilistic feelings that fuel both scientism and anti-science sentiment. Instead of misguided rebellion against cosmology, the mandala correctly re-establishes the observer as the sacred center (Kyil) from which the world (Khor) unfolds, demonstrating that a vast universe and a profoundly significant self can and do coexist.
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