More than 100 people were on hand in Dunedin yesterday to view an artwork created by Dhargyey Buddhist Centre resident teacher Geshe Lobsang Dhonyoe, and watch its destruction.
For the Arts Festival Dunedin performance Sand Mandala the Tibetan monk poured grains of crushed and coloured marble to create a depiction of the celestial abode of the archetypal female Buddha, Tara, in the temple room at the centre.
Centre director Peter Small said the work was destroyed at the "dissolution ceremony" yesterday to remind people how short and changeable life was.
"Enjoy it while it lasts," he told the people including those standing in the hall, before the intricate work was swept up.
The sweepings would be used in a ceremony to bless the environment.
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Yes we need to remember life and all things in it are transient and we should avoid getting excessively attached to our physical possessions and creations. But take on the lesson too far and it could render you an unfeeling, uncaring voyeur on the sideline of life or a totally self absorbed "live for the moment" thrill seeking loner hedonist. Without a reasonable level of willingness to get attached to our possessions, creations and other people there would be no human relationships of depth or substance, no incentive for reproduction and parenting, no desire to produce great art and architecture, no drive to create and improve civilisation.