Foreseeing the Lamas visit
I am thrilled the lama decided to visit our village. I believe his visit will offer us many opportunities for improvement. I am also looking forward to our communities involvement in working together to assemble the appropriate tradition offerings and preparations ‘befitting the visit’. I have focused much of my energy this week creating mandalas from rock pain I have collected in the area. I have collected many woods to burn and carved the eight auspicious symbols all around my cave. I have meditated on his arrival and foresee an enchanted visit. Our community has really come together to make this happen. It is as if each individual has a job in facilitating the great Lamas arrival.
I think that the Lamas visit may bring great joy — especially after our communities experience with the recent hailstorm and afterward destruction. I had a hard time getting my self back together after the rainfall. My cave was flooded and immediately after this occurred I had to pack up and venture to the neighbouring village to help cure others of surrounding naga illnesses. I am looking forward to taking this time off in meditative celebration in order to rejuvenate my spirit and soul.
It has been really great to see so many people of different categorized occupations bonding together to help one another. Our community seems to be coming together and I think the Lamas visit is exactly what we need to restore our community back to its former glory. Another improve I have to mention is the new bridge. The hailstorm completely destroyed the bridge we needed to get across to the neighbouring village. The builders did an incredible job of restoring — even improving — our bridge. Our community has come a long way in development these past few weeks. I feel like along the way we are all learning special skills and vital knowledge needed for survival.
The most astounding aspect — and what I truly adore about any Buddhist traditional ceremony — is the construction and subsequent destruction of the sand mandala. This is a mandala made of sand that takes days to construct. It is intricate and colourful. I witnessed the part of the ceremony where they stake the ground to capture and keep out any surrounding spirits. The energy in the room was so pure at this point. The sand mandala radiates light — I couldn’t help but feel enchanted. I also love what the sand mandala represents within Buddhist philosophy. The construction of the mandala brings to light the dependent origination of all things. The sand mandala in no way simply appeared on the ground. Individuals spent many hours — even days — scraping rock to arrange the small coloured particles of sand. The mandala will be held in tact for the duration of the Lamas visit. At this end — this is my favourite part — the mandala is destroyed. Emphasizing that all things are impermanent.
I think this exercise and the many preparations our community upheld in advance for the Lamas arrival built our merit both individually and as a community. it also brings to the forefront realizations surrounding Ancient Buddhist teachings of impermanence and interdependent arising. I am really looking forward to the Lamas visit next week and the next few days of community preparation. I can’t wait to hear the horns and meditate surrounded by monks chanting. I think there is something so special about these rituals that has the ability to change us and our perspective. The Lamas visit is a huge deal as our community has no central Guru. How can we hope to advance along the Buddhist path? I welcome the Lama and whatever the experience of these next few days will bring.
Golden Chain
“I am a link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain of love that stretches around the world.
I must keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing, and protect all who are weaker than myself.
I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing that on what I do now depends my happiness and misery.
May every link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain of love become bright and strong and may we all attain perfect peace.” — Buddhist Prayer
