Reflections from Vesak Day – Impermanence

Dear Dharma friends

In this world where change is the only constant, it is important to remember that what we are (or what we perceive ourselves to be) are but fleeting and impermanent. Similarly, the thoughts and emotions which we have, whether positive or negative, vis a vis any individual or any given incident, are equally transient.

Many understand these concepts at an intellectual level, but why is it that when it comes to practising it, we find it ever so hard? If things are, by their nature, transient, why do we sentient beings always grasp or cling onto them, as if they were permanent?

The answer lies in afflictions which come with us from past lives; like moths, we are drawn to naked flames in the dark – we detest suffering, but are attracted time and again to its causes. That is what causes us to remain in samsara.

It is for these reasons that in many Buddhist traditions, meditation on the impermanence of all conditioned phenomena is such an important aspect of our practices, particularly so in our Vajrayana path. This brings us to the Sand Manadala, which many Dharma friends may remember, was drawn, constructed and taken apart over the Vesak Day period, with each step accompanied by the appropriate rituals, each step of which was an exercise on meditation on impermanence. As we may have mentioned before, the Sand Mandala is a two dimensional representation of the deities’ abode, which is constructed on an axis from where the 4 directions of North, South, East and West are represented, with the Centre being the “Central” direction. The Sand Mandalas are how the celestial abodes of the deities look like, when one adopts a bird’s eye view. The Sand Mandalas are an essential aspect of tantric practice during which one meditates upon oneself as deities in the mandala. In addition, it is believed that wherever a Sand Mandala is created, all sentient beings and the surrounding environment are blessed.

This year, the Sand Mandala constructed was that dedicated to Tara. The blessed sand following the dissolution ritual (which was to serve as a powerful reminder that even the most beautiful things painstakingly put together will be come to an end) was eventually released into the sea at East Coast Park to carry the blessings the world over. We pray that these practices made possible through the infinite kindness of Geshe la and the other tantric monks will gradually help us to all to gain transcendental wisdom, and take us slowly but surely, further and further away from the clutches of samsara.

Next year over the Vesak Day celebrations, we shall endeavour to recreate this experience but this time with a Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala. Geshe la hopes to continue to bring blessings, hope and peace to our community and beyond. Today, with folded hands and sincere hearts, we thank you for your continued support. May all who read this message receive blessings manifold, and may you all enjoy good health, peace and auspicious conditions.

The Maha Tare Team