From Sams Journal a beautiful piece of art

Several Buddhist monks spent their time creating a piece of art with colored sand from the ocean. Day after day they carefully spread the sand out on a large canvas placed on a table. I asked a monk, What will happen to this beautiful piece of art? When the artists are finished, replied the monk,we will enjoy the work for a moment, and then the sand will be placed back into the ocean How can they spend so much time and energy on a piece of art that will be thrown back into the sea? I asked. The monk replied, That is what happens to all of us, we are a beautiful piece of art, here on this earth for a little while and then we are returned to the earth (or the ocean floor) to become a new piece of art.