3 minute read
Tibetan Sand Mandala of Wisdom Ceremony for the Pure Land Foundation
On December, 2023, senior Tibetan monks gathered in London to conduct the Tibetan Sand Mandala of Wisdom ceremony for the Pure Land Foundation. This is a unique Buddhist tradition to aid deep, collective meditation to attain universal benefits.
Over three days with great precision and meticulous techniques, the monks constructed a colorful, concentric geometric sand pattern. Each mandala is dedicated to a specific deity. This mandala was dedicated to Manjusri the Bodhisattva of wisdom.
In Buddhism, deities 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 starting from outside to the inner core through layers.
Observe how each pattern 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 ritualistically destroyed. But even the destruction of the mandala continues with the original rhythm of its creation. It is carefully deconstructed and gathered for the final act. It is almost inevitable for the creators and the observers to become attached to the beautiful mandala.
The moment the mandala was destroyed triggered complex emotions in everyone present.
The destruction ritual reminded us of the impermanence of life and taught us the Buddhist lesson of non-attachment.
The transfer of merit is another important Buddhist principle. Every good deed and blessing collected through the practitioner's merit must be distributed to all sentient 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.
Published by the Pure Land Foundation:
The Pure Land Foundation advocates for the benefits of Buddhism-inspired wisdom and practices to support social, spiritual and emotional wellness in response to the world’s mental health crisis.
A lot of modern crisis and suffering comes from the heart as unresolved anger, pain and resentment. This inner universe is often reflected in one’s outer reality. Whilst one cannot control the world, you can control how you choose respond to it.
The adoption of Buddhism-inspired practices into modern life can help individuals to relieve suffering. And collective well being can help bring about societal change.
The Pure Land Foundation creates wholly original content including insights, teachings and practical tools for individuals, whilst also emphasising the importance of inner transformation as a pathway to societal change and collective well being.
The Pure Land Foundation was founded by philanthropist Bruno Wang in 2015.
About Bruno Wang: Bruno Wang is a patron, philanthropist and producer. Bruno Wang is a longstanding supporter of art, music and theatre as a patron of the arts. Bruno Wang is an advocate for spiritual and mental wellness as founder of the Pure Land Foundation. Bruno Wang is also a producer of socially important film and theatre productions at Bruno Wang Productions.
