Sand mandala by tibetan buddhist - Essay Example

Sand Mandala by Tibetan Buddhist Mandalas are colored sand that is part of the tradition of Tibetan Buddhists that symbolizes inner peace and harmony, long life, and good health among others within oneself and among other people around the world (You Tube b). Accompanied by ritualistic ceremonies, the sand will be destroyed, put inside a clean empty bottle, and slowly poured into a creek or mountains approximately ten days after mandalas are created (You Tube a). Basically, spreading the sand will drive out all the negativity that is present in the environment. Aside from spreading positive energy in the environment, the sand gathered from a mandala ceremony can be used in person or animals that are dying or stick a portion of the sand on the crown – top of the head (You Tube b).
Ceremonies using different musical instruments to make a monotone sound and chanting are necessary as it enables the participants to experience peace of mind and deep concentration before and after the creation of sand mandala. The monotone sound also enables the monks and other participants to meditate in silence together (You Tube b). On the other hand, the process of pouring the sand into a creek is being done in order to allow the sand to flow with the water. This process symbolizes the spreading blessings, love and compassion to all human beings.
Having read and observed how sand mandala is being performed is a very good experienced. Based on my personal observation and experiences about sand mandala, I have learned that the eight different parts of the center of the mandala symbolizes the eight noble paths of Tibetan Buddhism which includes: (1) right understanding; (2) right thought; (3) right speech; (4) right action; (5) right livelihood; (6) right effort; (7) right mindfulness; and (8) right concentration regardless of the art design of the mandala (Rahula, p. 45).
These eight highlighted characteristics are actually the key factors that can bring us inner happiness, contentment in life, and freedom from anger. With the use of right speech, right action, and right livelihood, we can easily avoid actions that can cause harm to other people. For example: Being careful with the words we use when we speak to other people combined with choosing a morally acceptable occupation can lessen the chance that we can cause emotional pain to another person (Bodhi, p. 41). Therefore, there is a higher chance that we will receive good karma in our next life. Likewise, having the opportunity to personally experience how sand mandala is being conducted also made me able to understand the different levels of compassion.
Being optimist in life is necessary to enable us to become more enlightened as we face challenges in our lives. By unloading some of our negative emotions that we have unconsciously kept within ourselves, it will be easier for us to be able to end our sufferings and start anew with life. Regardless of whether or not the root cause of our problems is financial in nature, we can easily find solutions that will be effective in solving our problems (Bodhi, p. 3).
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References
Bodhi, Bhikkhu. The Noble Eightfold Path: The way to end of suffering. Buddhist Publication Society, 1998.
Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. In Chapter V - The Fourth Noble Truth: Magga: The Path. NY: Grove/Atlantic , 1994.
"You Tube." 2009b. Sand Mandala Ceremony with the Tibetan Monks of Gaden... 7 November 2009 .
"You Tube." 2009a. Sand Mandala by Tibetan Buddhist Monks FREE TIBET. 7 November 2009 . Read More