The Mandala Body

A student asked Master Weizhen: “Why do we care for the bodyif everything is impermanent?”

“He is like a mandala, ” said Weizhen.“We spend hours, days, sometimes even weekscreating an almost perfect mandala.But when it is finished,we offer it to the riverand let it dissolve.”

The student was confused. “Why all this effortif it is destroyed?”

The master replied: “Precisely because it passes,we care for it.This is the practice of life.”

Then he continued: “This body is my mandala.I honor and cultivate it, not to cling,but to leave it with dignity.

I respect the form,and I let it go.”

The student bowed.

Commentary

In this way, respect for dualityand thus for non-duality becomes visible.Care for what is present, with humility.