Mandala of Compassion
Circle of Compassion Circle of Peace
Directed and Edited by Lisa Niedermeyer: “Tibetan nuns from the Keydong nunnery in Katmandu create a sand mandala at Trinity College. Hartford, CT 2005.”
Sand mandalas are a traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice, normally undertaken by a team of Buddhist monks or nuns, and ritually constructed over a period of days or even weeks. An entire mandala is painstakingly constructed out of dyed sand. Once the closing ceremonies have been completed, the mandala is systematically destroyed, and the sand released to the world, bestowing blessings upon all as the sand returns to nature. The creative process, and the mandala itself, are opportunities for reflection and meditation, and each specific mandala has its own message to teach and blessings to confer. The dismantling of the completed mandala symbolizes the impermanence of life.
The mandala being constructed in the video is that of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara / Kuan-yin ), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. According to legend, Chenrezig vowed not to rest until he had liberated all beings in all the realms of suffering. Chenrezig is considered the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet, and his well-known mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, is said to contain all the teachings of the Buddha. It is believed that whenever we feel love or compassion for anyone or any part of the natural world, we experience our connection with Chenrezig.
Namaste.
Letting Go, Going on…
As we grow and evolve emotionally and spiritually, we often encounter times on the Path -crossroads, if you will- where it is simply time to let go of old habits and embrace new perspectives so that we may continue to grow. But our habits and our ego can be sneaky… they come out at odd times and in subtle ways. And sometimes letting go and going on is not an easy thing for us to do. Habits of body, mind and emotion, ego (in the form of selfish wants and often disguised as “needs”), and cynicism about the world in which we live or in ourselves to make the necessary changes often halt our progress. But this hesitation, although part of the human condition, need not be more than a temporary stopping point on the pathway to personal growth. We do not need to subscribe to what may seem “overwhelming odds” or the “manifestations of the majority”. We are free to make our own choices, our own decisions, free to come to our own conclusions, and free to choose our own realities. All this is part of the growth process, and if we recognize it as such, we may then re-evaluate our beliefs, our habits, and make conscious decisions to take the next steps (or not) in our evolution, in our existence.
Native American Code of Ethics…
As I continue the search for the pieces of the Path, looking for the whole, I stumble across something that resonates. Another piece of the path work puzzle. Posted, to share…
Native American Code of Ethics…
- Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
- Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealously and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
- Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
Edging forward
“You leave no footprints when you fly”– One Mystical Monkey
Like a newly hatched bird looking over the nest’s edge, there comes a time to just take the leap and try the wings with which we are born. The time to do that is now. And by so doing, we show others how to take wing themselves…
Namaste.
(In)Dependence Day?!
July 4th. The day Americans celebrate our claim of independence from England …231 years ago.
First and foremost, I’d like to say THANK YOU to all members of our military, past, present, and future, for the choices and sacrifices you have made so the rest of us may live the lives we value. I sincerely honor the decision you have made to serve our country and to protect the ideals of freedom which we hold. Whether we agree or not with the politics, the specifics of the battles, the motivations for war, the cost (on many levels), the spiritual aspirations or ideals we may hold, or anything else… thank you. You are appreciated. You are loved. You are honored. We want you home, safe, back to the arms of your loved ones, hoping never to lose you or any of those whom we love to such a primitive solution as war to what amounts to a difference of spiritual and economic opinion. I hope soon, that these battles, these wars, will become unnecessary and recognized for the archaic and barbaric thing that they are, but until then, thank you. You, your decisions, your sacrifices, are appreciated. May you be home soon. Namaste.
Stepping Stones
It seems I often blog about Spiritual ideas and ideals, but often omit specific suggestions on how to accomplish the things about which I ramble. The reason is simple: there is a wide variety of religions and beliefs in this world, and each of us have found (or are finding) those things which resonate specifically to our current existence on this plane. We are drawn to a specific system of beliefs so that we may further our Spiritual pursuits according to where we are developmentally. Each of us must apply our own current, specific training and beliefs, according to our own methods, to the development of our Spiritual awareness. I do not believe one religion or system to be superior to another; just different.