When I first saw a traditional Tibetan buddhist mandala I was mesmerized. The precision, the craft, the color choice and the hidden symbolism, all that put me in a state of awe. Also, the hypnotizing moves of the monks creating them, by delicately putting together colored dust, in a long (and probably painful) process, was just as fascinating. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful thing was made only by putting together colored sand on a flat surface.

Later on, I saw a documentary about the making - and the destroying of them. Because, as I was about to find out, all those beautiful things were reduced to just plain dust, seconds after they were finished. Completely. It was part of the entire process: after a mandala was considered complete, then the flat surface on top of which it was created was simply erased.

I didn't know that. I was convinced, for years, that those mandalas were somehow preserved or otherwise kept in a safe place, but no. They were destroyed, and then a new mandala was started.

Impermanence is a central theme in Buddhism and the creation and destruction of mandalas is just a training in accepting that nothing lasts forever. Whatever you start, it will end. And whatever ends, will make room for something new to start.

For some reason, I remembered those mandalas while looking at this beautiful sand castle on the beach today.

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We are still expecting some rain - not as hard as the "gota fria", but still - so that castle will soon be destroyed too.

Just like those mandalas, tomorrow, the guy who built it, will start another one from scratch.

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Previous posts in the challenge:

• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day One: All Ultramarathons Start With Just One Small Step
• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day Two: How Much Garbage Do You Carry With You?
• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day Three: Pushing Things To Happen Versus Letting Them Happen "Through" You
• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day Four: The Rain In Spain Stays Mainly On The Plain
• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day Five: Books, Coffee And The Smell Of A Gentle Autumn
• 30 Days Challenge Fall 2018 - Day Six: Revisiting The Harry Potter Trees In Turia

Steem on!

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I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at Dragos Roua where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua.

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