A group of five Tibetan Buddhist monks, newly arrived from South India, are on a three-month tour of the West Coast to construct Sand Mandalas, also known as Sand Paintings. Their tour is called “Sacred Tibetan Art – The Sand Mandala: Creating a Picture of Universal Compassion.”
This project can be appreciated simply as a piece of "time-based art." But, according to Tibetan Buddhist belief, the creation of a Sand Mandala is meant to create a profound experience of Compassion. The positive effects of a Sand Mandala are believed to radiate out over an entire region, blessing the environment and the beings therein, as an effort for world peace. Once created, the Sand Mandala is destroyed in the Closing Ceremony, as a lesson in the impermanence of all life. The Opening & Closing Ceremonies are very popular, with traditional Tibetan Buddhist chanting and music.
This event is free to the public. All ages are welcome to attend. The Monks of Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery will build this traditional Tibetan Buddhist artwork in Palo Alto on Nov. 9th - 11th at Be Yoga, 440 Kipling St., Palo Alto, in the water room. The Mandala will remain on display, along with other Tibetan Buddhist statues, thanka paintings, and artifacts, through Nov. 11th.
Schedule:
Opening Ceremony w/ music was held Friday
Sand Mandala Construction Saturday 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Closing Ceremony w/ music & Procession Sunday 5 pm - 6 pm
To learn more and to make a charitable donation to support the monks and their monastery, please visit Be Yoga Saturday or Sunday. Visit www.be-yoga.com, email mandala@be-yoga.com, or call 650-906-9016.
