General Discussion

yawnmaster

(2,812 posts)

74. Why is the ceremony and completion of the painting so important?

Sun Apr 27, 2014, 11:30 AM

Apr 2014

rituals without understanding are useless.
The little boy allows the point to be made so much more than the ritual destruction.
It does illuminate how most don't understand the idea trying to be made.
It doesn't matter how much work was done. work is a sunken cost and crying over it is useless.
Nothing we do will be here forever.

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Small boy mistakes Jersey City sand mandala for playground, destroys hours of work [View all] Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 OP

Surprised the monks didn't see the humor in it. postulater Apr 2014 #1

I thought they did this all the time...make a sand table and then tilt it and whoosh, it's CTyankee Apr 2014 #65

that was the plan -- it just wasn't done yet fishwax Apr 2014 #73

the toddler was just living in the moment NightWatcher Apr 2014 #2

The little boy was the Buddha. scarletwoman Apr 2014 #3

How so? phil89 Apr 2014 #4

Why would anyone get upset at the destruction of a sand painting - something that's intended from scarletwoman Apr 2014 #5

I think it was 2naSalit Apr 2014 #7

Do you have children? MannyGoldstein Apr 2014 #8

Raised 2naSalit Apr 2014 #25

+10000 dionysus Apr 2014 #27

Yes yes, you're from a better time, when everything was better, and you know better Scootaloo Apr 2014 #33

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2014 #58

I'm with you on that. MannyGoldstein Apr 2014 #59

I have kids. And now grandkids. HERVEPA Apr 2014 #77

Really. Yo_Mama Apr 2014 #83

The exercise in this art is its impermanence. Whether it comes from from a rogue wave or a child Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #23

that is my understanding of Buddhism exactly... CTyankee Apr 2014 #66

Because it wasn't finished. Respect for the effort others make at creation? KittyWampus Apr 2014 #11

What do the monks think? I suspect they are laughing up there sleeve at the West's outrage Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #24

Having these people 2naSalit Apr 2014 #26

So, what do the monks think about this random act. As random as the waves. Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #30

I read the whole story, a member of the family that is hosting the monks is quoted Bluenorthwest Apr 2014 #40

Thank you for giving info on the monk's perspctive, it taught the lesson uppityperson Apr 2014 #60

According to the article, the monks were at first "stricken," but then their leader made a calming tblue37 Apr 2014 #61

Here's a better answer. The little boy was the Buddha because he brought a lesson in non-attachment. scarletwoman Apr 2014 #6

At least they've got THAT going for them. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2014 #9

OR> the monks were human and the toddler was unrestrained and unsupervised. KittyWampus Apr 2014 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Apr 2014 #29

Good answer. Even monk can lose the path. FYI, I have been reading The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. zonkers Apr 2014 #14

. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #15

Spot On, Ma'am The Magistrate Apr 2014 #18

This was my take away from this as well. Raine1967 Apr 2014 #64

One of the big lessons of Buddhism is impermanence. backscatter712 Apr 2014 #62

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Apr 2014 #28

That was my immediate thought jberryhill Apr 2014 #34

. myrna minx Apr 2014 #42

Yes he was enigmatic Apr 2014 #53

Bingo! 1000words Apr 2014 #56

My thought exactly! This story is a perfect Buddhist koan/joke. morningfog Apr 2014 #57

Exactly so, his action was the message. suffragette Apr 2014 #81

Stricken at first, the monks returned to repair the damage pinboy3niner Apr 2014 #10

Thank goodness that no cats were in the vicinity Orrex Apr 2014 #13

this happened before , the monks are never upset JI7 Apr 2014 #16

I like how the mother rushed him away... Ino Apr 2014 #48

I love that monk's smile renate Apr 2014 #84

Were the monks upset? Where is their perspective to this story? Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #17

not upset JI7 Apr 2014 #19

Exactly. The point is not the wests celebration of the effort. The point is the Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #21

It's sort of like the Buddhas of Bamiyan Scootaloo Apr 2014 #35

the ocean? TorchTheWitch Apr 2014 #36

+100 Auntie Bush Apr 2014 #38

I don't get it either unless they didn't look at it TorchTheWitch Apr 2014 #71

Why is the ceremony and completion of the painting so important? yawnmaster Apr 2014 #74

what good is a church service conducted TorchTheWitch Apr 2014 #75

the young boy taught more than any ceremony. eom yawnmaster Apr 2014 #85

lol Liberal_in_LA Apr 2014 #20

He didn't destroy anything that was created to be destroyed. We are a remarkably stupid culture. Luminous Animal Apr 2014 #22

to symbolize the fleeting nature of life.............. lunasun Apr 2014 #31

Sometimes there is great value in the destruction of a pattern ... DreamGypsy Apr 2014 #32

Before and after pics. Skinner Apr 2014 #37

Is good the Monks were able to smile over the childs play,said they will 'struggle again' to re-do. Sunlei Apr 2014 #39

Eventually seveneyes Apr 2014 #41

Reminds me of when I'd build sand castles on Lake Michigan. WatermelonRat Apr 2014 #43

Castles made of sand... warrprayer Apr 2014 #44

Sounds kind of appropriate, no? As already discussed upthread. :) nt. RedCappedBandit Apr 2014 #45

Some of the commenters here are almost as trollish as the ones in Jersey City. GoneOffShore Apr 2014 #46

Free Mandala! Throd Apr 2014 #47

Thread winner! DavidDvorkin Apr 2014 #49

Thus proving their point, no? chrisa Apr 2014 #50

it's really easy to be gracious when its not hours of your work La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2014 #51

The Pearls Of Wisdom Are Plenty grilled onions Apr 2014 #52

I know this was made to be destroyed, but let the creators destroy it on their own in their own way. tarheelsunc Apr 2014 #54

They always destroy them anyway because Drale Apr 2014 #55

If the Buddhists are all bent about this, then Buddhists ain't what I thought they was. Iggo Apr 2014 #63

Thanks to this thread/story, I have my next book - "Water Touching Stone" closeupready Apr 2014 #67

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2014 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author hrmjustin Apr 2014 #69

You seem angry at kids. hrmjustin Apr 2014 #70

Maybe they needed to put a fence around it? treestar Apr 2014 #72

Because monks don't easily take a fence Orrex Apr 2014 #76

They could have a locked gate or something treestar Apr 2014 #79

Maybe they should picket. Or throw him in the stockade. Orrex Apr 2014 #80

It didn't occur to them to secure the site? rrneck Apr 2014 #78

UPDATE: The monks fixed it in 2 hours and the ritual went on as scheduled pinboy3niner Apr 2014 #82