BSM - 8/6/07

Best Shot Monday - Buddhist Sand Mandala

My Best Shot Monday this week is actually four “best shots,” because I couldn’t pick just one to share of this beautiful art.

On Thursday and again on Saturday last week, I went to watched Kezang Dorjee, a Buddhist Monk from Bhutan, as he created a Buddha of Compassion Sand Mandala, all done by hand - sprinkling grains of sand with his fingertips in a slow, meticulous process. It was beautiful and amazing and I can only imagine the patience, training, skill and discipline that must go into creating one.

I learned, through the literature that was distributed at the mandala creation, that it is said that those viewing the making of a mandala are benefited through clearing obstacles in their life and purifying negative actions and karmas that have been done in the past. By concentrating on the image of the mandala, the viewer can experience blessings. Nice. I could always use some blessings. :)

Below are two pictures I took on Thursday and then two more from Saturday (when he was getting closer to being finished with it).

I wasn’t able to attend, but on Sunday the sand was swept up as part of a mandala dismantling ceremony and was then dispersed into a nearby creek to return to the Earth. This process symbolizes the transience of life and the ideal of non-attachment to the material world.

Thursday:

Saturday:

I know that’s four pictures (instead of one) for Best Shot Monday, but I really wanted to show off the beauty of the mandala. After all of the work and energy that went into it, I feel it is deserving. :)

See more pics from Best Shot Monday over at Picture This.
Oh, and please sign Mister Linky below if you participated in Best Shot Monday! :)

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