Yesterday’s You
Filed Under Buddhadharma | Posted on February 15, 2008
Yesterday I had the privelege of accompanying venerable Tibetan monks Geshe Thupten Dorjee and Rinzin Dorjee to the local Northwest Arkansas Community College for a sand mandala presentation. 
Hanging around with the monks is always a unique and marvelous experience, but throw in a public sand mandala demonstration, and especially wonderful experiences will almost always occur.
First, there are the inevitable questions regarding the preservation of the mandala:
How does the sand stick to the board?
It doesn’t stick … it just lays on top.
Then how do they preserve it? Can’t you hang it up on the wall?
No, they don’t preserve it. When it’s finished and beautiful, they destroy it.
I love answering that question. Or, more precisely, I love the look on the questioner’s face as I answer it. Of course, I go on to explain — whether they ask for an explanation or not — that the destruction of 
the mandala serves to dramatically remind us of the impermanence of all existence, which is a fundamental principle of Buddhist doctrine. Sometime that helps; but, as often as not, they just walk away slowly with that same look of incredulity.
As Rinzin worked alone on the main mandala, Geshe taught students, faculty, and staff the basic techniques on another mandala while explaining the symbology and philosophy behind it.
The five colors represent the 5 elements, the 5 aggregates, the 5 Buddha families. The vajra at the center symbolizes wisdom; the lotus represents the Buddha, while its 8 petals represent the eightfold path. The universe of Buddhadharma, of true reality, of liberation can be seen within the symbols of the mandala. The destruction of the mandala symbolizes impermanence.
Responses range from simple attentiveness to confusion to fascination. They don’t always get it, but sometimes you catch a glimpse of a small spark of understanding. One woman in particular comes to mind. Geshe-la spoke, as he often does, of how we, from the moment we are born, begin to die. All phenomena from the moment of their creation begin the process of moment-by-moment disintegration.
You are not the same person that was here yesterday; yesterday’s you no longer exists.
What do you mean I don’t exist? I was here yesterday, and I’m still here today.
Yes, you were here yesterday; but yesterday’s you is not here today.
Again, the look. Then the spark. A glance back at the teacher. The look. The spark. I imagine she’s still considering the implications of that simple statement, and will be for some time to come. That simple, wonderful spark of curiosity. Isn’t that what set the Buddha on the path to enlightenment? So may it be for us all.
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