I am reminded of a story of some Buddhist monks whose spiritual beliefs prevent them from owning any property or from coveting things of the material world. There are some monks who pass their time by painstakingly creating vast murals out of grains of coloured sand. The work takes many weeks to complete and requires dedication, focus, and precision. Once the mural is complete, however, the artist monk is faced with the question, “What shall I do with my work?” As an ongoing recognition that life continues to flow onward, the monks simply wipe the table clear of the sand, acknowledging and accepting the impermanence of all things, and they release their attachment to what was. Instead, they set themselves joyfully to the task of continued creation, as they set back to work creating more sand art.

All we have as human beings is the present moment. We may remember the past, and we may have our suspicions and expectations about the future, but all we will ever have is an ever-changing “RIGHT NOW”. Sometimes more than others, we must embrace the RIGHT NOW with an open heart as joyfully as possible, recognizing all of the opportunities that we have to make our next creation.

The traditions, language, and culture of Maaloula was not lost when the art was made to look different. The value was perfect, and it still is. By attempting to destroy this power, the cruel people were misled, and in fact, they have given it far greater power. Now, the tradition is calling out to be created anew, to be carried into the hearts and minds of many more as awareness spreads. We now have the powerful tool called the internet, and through this tool, the culture can be permanently preserved.

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