When we think of art, most people imagine an artist with a brush, or perhaps one with a pencil creating precise lines, transforming their canvas into a masterpiece that is sold in an art gallery or displayed on a wall for all to admire. Tibetan Buddhism, however, has some of the most breathtaking works of art that the world may never see, because as soon as the art is complete, they destroy it. This art is called Sand Mandalas, and their destruction carries one of the most beautiful spiritual messages I have ever read about.
“The word mandala (pronounced muhn-DAH-luh) comes from the Sanskrit language and means ‘circle.’ In Buddhist tradition, a mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol representing their beliefs in the physical world, residential palaces, or cosmic realms associated with particular deities, who are represented in the center” (Bedeaux, 2025). Created using geometric patterns, mandalas serve as visual metaphors for cosmic order, spiritual guidance, and the journey toward enlightenment.
It is believed that Shakyamuni (Buddha) taught the art of sand mandala construction in India in the fifth or sixth century BCE. In this tradition, it also states that the knowledge has been passed down, unbroken for more than 2,500 years. “Through the centuries, it has been incorporated into many Eastern religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Shinto” (Bedeaux, 2025). Sand mandalas date back as early as the 11th century in the Tibetan culture, and the term dul tson kyil khor means “made of powdered colors” (Bedeaux, 2025).
The creation and subsequent destruction of a sand mandala is a profoundly spiritual practice, symbolizing the impermanence of all things. The process begins with the consecration of the site where the mandala will be constructed. The ritual includes dance and prayer chants, which purify the site for the mandala.
Once the site is purified, the geometric designs are first drawn by a qualified lama, after which purification rites are conducted to bless the monks or nuns who will undertake the mandala’s creation. Starting in the center, they work their way to the outer edge. Individual grains of colored sand are placed using tubes, funnels, and scrapers called chak-pur. “The process can take days and weeks, resulting in an elaborate geometric pattern filled with sacred symbols (Bedeaux, 2025).
The destruction of the sand mandala is known as the dissolution ceremony. At this point, sand is swept toward the center, representing the impermanence of everything in the Universe. The sand is then collected in a jar, wrapped in silk, and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature. It is believed that the dissolution disperses the healing energies of the mandala to sentient beings in water and throughout the world.
Purging ourselves of various attachments can have a multitude of benefits, from improved physical and mental health, to relationships and overall happiness. We all have things we are holding onto that limit our growth in some fashion or another. If you’re like me, perhaps you have several, but for the purpose of getting started, let’s just pick one. Anger! There are several reasons I have held onto this destructive attachment for so many years. Anger isn’t just one attachment in itself, however. It’s a web of destruction that, for me, includes other things such as regret, loneliness, fear, sadness, and uncertainty. All of these things combine themselves to create the anger that I hold into today. So, how do I purge myself of these things all at once? In truth, I can’t. Anger is an attachment that has to be dealt with in phases, first dealing with each individual underlying emotion that, in totality, make up that which I experience on a daily basis.
With that in mind, I have set a goal this new year to focus on all the regret that I have yet to let go of. The manifestation of true happiness begins when LETTING GO becomes a personal mantra; a value which I live by. Yes, I have let go of a lot of things throughout my life, and yes, it is often scary, but I have also gained so much by doing so. And, once I let go of something, I quickly realized the amount of pain that attachment added to my life. This relief doesn’t happen overnight, but when it does happen, there is no denying it.
Every attachment is its own mandala – a work of art that is years in the making. And, the thought of destroying it is terrifying, often requiring a great deal of courage and confidence, knowing that your life will change for the better. Just like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it becomes, and the more you become okay with the outcome, regardless of what that might be. Let’s face it, attachments often make us resistant to change. We fear losing what we’re attached to, even if it’s no longer serving us. This resistance can prevent us from embracing new opportunities and experiences that could bring greater happiness.
The whole concept around sand mandalas seems to be based on embracing the impermanence of all things by limiting our attachment to invisible bonds that tie us to specific outcomes, possessions, or relationships. This got me thinking; what is it about attachments that Buddhists feel so strongly about ridding themselves of it?
According to Alex Chen, “attachment is clinging on to something so tightly in the mind … to the point of becoming stubborn, self-centered, and irrational” (Chen, 2025). There is so much truth to this statement, especially in the American culture where true happiness is often associated with possessions and fiscal riches – adding things into our lives, such as money, objects, experiences, people, or people’s approval to gain happiness. While these things often work in the short-term, the long-term effects on one’s mental health and inner peace naturally take a back seat. And when this begins to happen, it becomes a clear indication that our level of attachment has crossed over the very fine line from happiness to suffering. You see, we were originally happy, free, and at peace. It was only after we added something unnecessary that we ultimately became unhappy. In fact, the Buddha put it even more simply: “The root of suffering is attachment” (Chen, 2025).
As we discussed, attachment is clinging onto things in the mind. Detachment then becomes about loosening that grip – still holding onto it if necessary, or letting it go if not. “Attachment is ‘I can’t be happy without that,’ detachment is ‘my happiness does not depend on that.’ Attachment is a strong demand towards people or things, detachment is peace with the way things are, which by the way, doesn’t have to conflict with wanting things to change” (Chen, 2025). We can still have desires, wishes, goals, and ambitions, but at the same time, we remain rational and adaptable.
“People have two kinds of desires. Some desires, we would be happy to have, but if we don’t obtain them, we don’t get upset. Then there are other desires where if we don’t get them, we become unhappy” (Chen, 2025). That, my friends, is attachment.
Attachment, however, goes far beyond physical objects or relationships. I don’t know about you, but I have often struggled with emotions, such as anger, jealousy, regret, shame, etc. – all of it resulting from past experiences and cultural influences like social media, television and various experiences as a child. All of these things act as barriers to happiness as they prevent me from being present in the moment. There is no doubt that all of this serves a purpose in small doses, however, when they become a part of our daily lives and begin to effect our relationships and happiness, they become a breeding ground for suffering.
So, how do we go about letting go of these things that we hold onto so tightly? Letting go of attachments isn’t about rejecting what’s important; it’s about embracing the beauty of what it releases. It’s about finding happiness in the present moment, regardless of external circumstances and listening to your intuition – that quiet inner voice that knows what’s right for you.
According to Susan Blanton, there are 6 practical steps to deepen letting go (Blanton, 2023):
- Daily Mindfulness Practice: Dedicate a few minutes each day to mindfulness meditation. It helps you become more aware of attachments as they arise and encourages a non-judgmental attitude towards them.
- Journaling: Keep a journal to reflect your thoughts and emotions. Writing can be a powerful tool for self-reflections and recognizing patterns of attachment.
- Seek Support: Share your journey with a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes talking about your attachments can offer new perspectives and insights.
- Letting Go Rituals: Create symbolic rituals that are unique to you to mark the process of release. You can write down your attachments on a piece of paper and throw them away as a symbol of letting go.
- Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a daily gratitude practice. Reflect on the things you’re thankful for. This can shift your focus from what you lack to what you have.
- Set Healthy Boundaries: In relationships, set and communicate healthy boundaries. Boundaries ensure that you prioritize self-care and prevent unhealthy attachments.
In short, letting go of our attachments can be a lifelong journey. Letting go doesn’t have to be a complete detachment from life, but rather a deeper engagement and connection to it. As you continue to embrace the power of release, you will find that happiness becomes a state of being, intuition, and your funnel to freedom.
It is human nature to hold onto things that ignite joy in our lives and suppress the memories that lead to suffering. Though suppressed, those things still have a way of creeping back into our daily lives, affecting our relationships, and interrupting our inner peace. Our mental mandala is a work of art that has shaped who we are today and encapsulates previous emotional attachments. What would it look like if we dedicated our lives to freeing our minds through a constant reexamination of what we can live without? One of the core teachings of Buddhism is the concept of Anicca, a word derived from the Sanskrit language that describes “the principle of impermanence and instability” (Google AI, 2025) – that everything in life is constantly changing and nothing lasts forever. Just like the destruction of a sand mandala serves as a powerful visual and emotional reminder of this truth, so, too, can the destruction of our own mental mandala—the one in our minds that no matter how intricate, painful, beautiful, or meaningful it is, will eventually fade away.
We all have the power to be happy and free regardless of our external circumstances. The key lies not in changing the things we do not have control over, but rather in letting go of that which controls our inner mind. Detachment doesn’t make us apathetic or irresponsible, it enables us to truly live in the present, enjoy our lives, and do a better job at attaining our goals. Take some time to determine which attachments are holding you back and consider what your life would look like if you performed a mental dissolution by gently and gracefully destroying every attachment that adds pain and suffering to your life.
Bedeaux, Rob. “The Tibetan Sand Mandala: A Short History,” Minneapolis Institute of Art (2025)
Chen, Alex. “Attachment, Suffering, and Letting Go,” Weekly Wisdom Blog (July 2025)
Blanton, Susan. “Letting of Attachments: A path to greater happiness and intuition”, Medium (September 2023)
Google AI. “Buddhist terminology around attachment and impermanence”, (December 2025)