jenny cares 

Sand Mandala at Northbridge
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Two of Vajrayana Institute’s outreach meditation groups are hosting Geshe Sonam Thargye and the other Tibetan monks of Sacred Footsteps from the Roof of the World.  Last week the monks were at Avalon Recreation Centre, and this week at the Aboriginal Heritage Office in Northbridge. At each location, the monks create a traditional Tibetan sand mandala over 6 days as well as many other activities.
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What is a sand mandala? Geshe Sonam explains:
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"The mandala is a representation of an enlightened being’s place of residence and everything that is contained within it. Each part of the mandala is rich in symbolism and reminds the meditator of the insights and states of mind and feelings he/she is trying to accomplish.
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The exact design and proportions are laid down in ancient Buddhist text. The monks have memorised the text and carefully follow the canonical iconography. Every part of the mandala symbolises different aspects of the teachings and the realisations of the enlightened being whose mandala it is.
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Made by pouring fine trails of brightly coloured sand onto a mathematically precise framework, the mandala is a wonder of intricacy and detail. After completion, the whole beautiful creation is swept away in a matter of seconds and returned to the waters or the earth to remind us that all things are impermanent."
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Everyone is welcome to visit and soak in the monks’ calm as they prepare this mandala for world peace. There will also be morning chanting and meditation, throughout both events.
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Tuesday 28th July - Sunday 2nd August
Aboriginal Heritage Office
Unit 39/135 Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge (next to The Shoe Shop)
Tel: 9949 9882; Email: info@aboriginalheritage.org
http://www.aboriginalheritage.org/
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For information regarding Sacred Footsteps from the Roof of the World ~ Australian Tour 2009
Contact:  Helen Wright -- National Tour Coordinator
Tel: 0352661788; Mob: 0422114127; Email: helliemac@bemail.com.au
http://www.drolkarbuddhistcentre.org.au/
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Vajrayana Institute
9 Victoria Square, Ashfield, NSW 2131 Australia
PO Box 352 Summer Hill NSW 2130
Tel +61 2 8916 7412 ... Fax +61 2 9798 9413
office@vajrayana.com.au ... www.vajrayana.com.au 

Remove This Arrow

A man approached the Blessed One and wanted to have all his philosophical questions answered before he would practice.

In response, the Buddha said,
“It is as if a man had been wounded by a poisoned arrow and when attended to by a physician were to say,

‘I will not allow you to remove this arrow until I have learned the caste, the age, the occupation, the birthplace, and the motivation of the person who wounded me.’

That man would die before having learned all this. In exactly the same way, anyone who should say,

‘I will not follow the teaching of the Blessed One until the Blessed One has explained all the multiform truths of the world’

-that person would die before the Buddha had explained all this.”

-from the Majjhima Nikaya