the Pure Land Founda:on
On December, 2023, senior Tibetan monks gathered in London to conduct the Tibetan Sand Mandala of Wisdom ceremony for the Pure Land FoundaBon. This is a unique Buddhist tradiBon to aid deep, collecBve meditaBon to aHain universal benefits.
Over three days with great precision and meBculous techniques, the monks constructed a colorful, concentric geometric sand paHern. Each mandala is dedicated to a specific deity. This mandala was dedicated to Manjusri the BodhisaHva of wisdom.
In Buddhism, deiBes are beings of higher consciousness and represent states of the mind to be obtained on the path to enlightenment. A mandala generally represents the spiritual journey starBng from outside to the inner core through layers.
Observe how each paHern effortlessly fits into the wider piece. Layer upon colorful layer is formed with the monks moving inwards to make the heart of the mandala. This inner sanctum is where
the deity is invoked to bring upon healing energies and powerful blessings to its observers. Each grain of colorful sand is infused with the collecBve prayers of those who take part in the ceremony.
The sand mandala so carefully constructed upon days of hard work and focus was ritualisBcally destroyed. But even the destrucBon of the mandala conBnues with the original rhythm of its creaBon. It is carefully deconstructed and gathered for the final act. It is almost inevitable for the creators and the observers to become aHached to the beauBful mandala.
The moment the mandala was destroyed triggered complex emoBons in everyone present.
The destrucBon ritual reminded us of the impermanence of life and taught us the Buddhist lesson of non-aHachment.
The transfer of merit is another important Buddhist principle. Every good deed and blessing collected through the pracBBoner's merit must be distributed to all senBent beings. The sands were released into the river Thames, which flows back into the oceans of our planet.
The blessings collected from the ceremony are therefore back into the wider universe for all of us to share.
