Tom's Mandala ~liz
used bookstore in town. It was a magical place for me as I often came away with
a special book to guide my spiritual path. I toured the narrow aisles to
browse books set upon dusty old shelves. My eyes focused upon a book by Carl
Jung. I thumbed the pages and discovered mandalas drawn by Jung’s patients. I was
not interested in the analytical text but the colorful symbolic drawings
captured me. In that precise moment I knew drawing mandalas was
to become part of my spiritual journey throughout life.
Each drawing is a
circle that to me, symbolizes God; Love without beginning or end. Curiously, I drew non-stop
for the two weeks I was home in Vermont. The mandala pictured above I drew for my
brother Tom (colored pencils and magic markers). If you look closely, you might see an image of Tommy along
side his beloved dog, Sadie (bottom circle, center of red portion).
Thousands
Better than a thousand meaningless statements
is one meaningful word,
which having been heard,
brings peace.
Better than a thousand meaningless verses
is one meaningful line of verse,
which having been heard,
brings peace.
Better than reciting a hundred meaningless verses
is one line from the Path of Wisdom,
which having been heard,
brings peace.
Greater in competition
than a person who overcomes
a thousand times a thousand people
is the person who overcomes self.
Certainly, the better success is in the struggle with the
self
than in a struggle with others.
For someone who is mindfully self-directed
and always lives with relaxed self-control,
neither heavenly nor hellish spirit,
nor the powers of force or evil
could turn such success into defeat.
Adapted from the Dhammapada, Canto 8 (verses 100-103).
Journal of Sacred Work 
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