The sand Mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition in which a group of monks creates a concentric diagram of colored sand. The Mandala is a microcosm representing various divine powers at work in the universe, and as such usually depicts figures of deities, Buddhist symbolism and structure. The process is in fact a form of meditation, similar to the idea of repeating a mantra. As soon as it’s completed the Mandala is destroyed in a specific order, the sand gets placed in a jar and scattered in a river.

This meditation on impermanence might seem cruel or pointless, but perhaps that just shows how unwilling we are to accept the temporariness of life. The obvious example that comes to mind is the recent financial crisis;  the hardest part to grasp was how billions of dollars just disappeared. People’s life savings, pension plans and charity funds vanished into thin air.

In this video from Vat19.com you can learn how to start making your own sand Mandala.  If you’re not quite ready to destroy your work, don’t worry, just use glue.

Chenrezig Sand Mandala created and exhibited at the House of Commons for the visit of the Dalai Lama on 21 May 2008.

They’re gonna tell it to you straight – if you need to start saving they’re the ones to tell you, without wrapping it up in a bow, and you best be listening, too.

I am another one who liked to burrow my head in the sand when anything about personal finances came about and I have to admit when I watched the Dolans’ videos, I cringed a little, as I knew what they were saying was right and I didn’t want to hear it! So I’m gonna make an early New Year’s resolution and so should you…. to take our heads out of the sand, and wake up to our financial future. So basically, suck it up, check your bank balance and watch their videos to find out what to do next!

My friend John loves music so much that he listens to bands that don’t even exist, my boss is deeply in love with her vintage My Little Pony dolls, I’m pretty sure my girlfriend loves me and I have my own private love, something I’m so passionate about I can just talk about it for ours, and the mere look of it sends weird vibrations down my spine.
The smell of it… The feel of it…

I’m talking, of course, about money.

That’s why I rejoiced to see Kiplinger’s best video ever, about investing in bear markets.

I come from a long line of bears owners – my great-great-grandfather’s title in the old country was “durav durav sagadiv”, which roughly translates to the great bear owner of the milky land who lives in the third house to the left ,the one with the green door, so no wonder I was fascinated.

With the economy being what it is these days, a bear is probably the best investment you can make. As a more conservative investor, while all ‘dem internet companies look to me like another dot-com bubble waiting to happen, I’m sticking to the good old bears. But a bear is more than mere investment – they are so much fun! You can teach it to dance to the sound of a flute, unleash it upon your enemies, take rides together on colorful bikes, or just enjoy a day in the sun with your new best friend.

Not to mention the fact that neighbors will suddenly become much friendlier. But on a more serious note, wondering just what a bear market is? In stock market terminology, a “bear market” refers to a period of declining prices, usually accompanied by widespread pessimism. In short, a time of recession, soaring unemployment and rising inflation. The greatest example, perhaps, is The Great Depression following the stock market crash back in 1929. In other words – yikes!
One last tip for you bear investors out there: if you want to avoid value drop, paint the bear.