What Did You Do This Weekend?

When many were choosing to head out to the stores and malls this weekend for Black Friday holiday shopping, our family purposely chose to not go shopping. At all. You see, for years now, we've been celebrating Christmas as sustainably as possible, and shopping, especially on Black Friday, just doesn't fit into my vision of what the season is all about- peace, kindness and sharing.

So, our family chose an alternative way to spend our time this weekend; we headed over to Atlanta Unity Church (off of Peachtree Parkway in Technology Park) to observe the opening ceremonies of Buddhist Tibetan monks as they prepare to build the World Peace Mandala right here in Peachtree Corners.

The World Peace Mandala is a sacred, spiritual work of art and is made from millions of grains of colored sand, representing hours and hours of mindful work by the monks. During the opening ceremony, one of the monks described that during the week-long process of building the Mandala, peace and prosperity is naturally generated and dispersed in Peachtree Corners. I felt thankful that our community is receiving such an incredible gift from this humble group. What a fantastic way to start the season of giving.

However, others started their season of giving in a much, much different way. On Black Friday, after waiting in line for hours in the middle of the night for the store to open, shoppers at a Wal-Mart in New York literally trampled a man to death in an effort to be the first in the store. Literally killed another human being just to make sure they were able to buy the new Elmo doll for their child at a $5 discount (and trust me, after a minute or two with Elmo, any two-year-old will be on to the next adventure). I find this story absolutely appalling and reprehensible. Is getting the best bargain and buying a gift important enough to become a barbarian? Seriously, what has our society become?

On our way to the church this afternoon, we drove by the packed parking lots at the Forum. While shoppers were busy purchasing potentially useless holiday gifts, my family was listening to the chanting of the monks as they blessed the table that they will build their peaceful work of art upon as a gift for our community. And on Saturday, while shoppers are wrapping gifts that will most likely end up in a landfill someday, we will be watching these same monks finish their work, only to immediately disassemble their project as a symbol of non-attachment.

Afterward, we'll all travel to Jones Bridge Park to disperse the grains of sand in the Chattahoochee River in a spiritual ceremony that represents the continual flow of peace and prosperity. Amazing. I think we can all learn something from this group of visitors to our community.

So, if you are looking for something different and meaningful to do this week, you can observe the monks building the World Peace Mandala and/or attend the Closing and Dispersal Ceremonies. Sure beats getting trampled at Wal-Mart.


Peace

~Robin~

Sustainable Peachtree Corners: Positively promoting green, sustainable living for those who live, work and play in the Peachtree Corners community.

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