29th January 2019
I discovered something recently that piqued my interest.
The Tibet and their Mandala process.
In short, the Tibet Mandala is an intricate process, requiring hours of dedication, discipline, and concentration, to create a five square foot picture from sand.
Once this masterpiece is completed, the monks pray over the picture and then demolish it.
They sweep up every last grain and throw it into the nearest stream, to flow into the ocean.
Why destroy this magnificent art piece after hours of dedication?
It is a beautiful symbolisation of the ephemerality of life and the world.
It is an understanding of transistorises. Nothing is permanent.
I know I could speak to many people in the western world and they would find this demoralising, although I see it as an inspirational action. Greed is promoted in the capitalist western world, and if you want everything, you obviously don’t want to lose anything, however it’s inevitable.
The pressure placed on everyone to succeed is so heavy, yet success is such a vague thing, so what is the pressure?
Maybe we can cover the pressure in another post. I’m going to love and leave you all with a quote from a much enjoyed Disney movie.
Mufasa:
“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As King, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures , from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”
Young Simba:
“But dad, don’t we eat the antelope?”
Mufasa:
“Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.”