This labor-intensive method is both an artistic and
spiritual practice. The mandalas are beautiful, but the process is perhaps most
fascinating. It takes tremendous effort and time to build a mandala—no
sketch pads or Adobe Illustrator here—and once these masterpieces are
completed, the final step takes place: ceremonial destruction. The
destruction is the culmination of the process, meant to remind us of
the impermanence of life.
While any creative ruled by ego might
be heartbroken at the thought of killing good work on purpose (and what
creative isn’t, really?), it is part of what makes these pieces so
incredible—and a powerful metaphor for the creative process. As you embark
on your next creative endeavor, remember these three lessons from the Buddhist
monks who create mandalas.
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