Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle" at its most basic level, but is imbued with much more meaning than that. This website explains it well. The sand mandala, which takes days to complete, is used to explore the impermanance of life, an integral concept of Buddhism. Coupled with specific chants and rituals, the creation of the mandala is a spiritual practice that goes way beyond the beauty of the creation we see before us. The particular mandala we saw created was called a mandala of compassion, another important concept in Buddhism. Compassion is not seen as just feeling sorry for someone who is sad or in pain, but rather, as wanting happiness for all people, not just those in our inner circle. This website can help you learn more (scroll down to the bottom.)
At any rate, we arrived and learned a bit about what mandalas are, and we discussed mandalas in nature (tree rings, the moon, snowflakes) and different cultures. We then went upstairs to where the monks were starting the mandala. A hush came over the children as we ascended the top step and heard the deep guttural chanting of the monks. One monk was hunched over scraping the sand from what are called "chak-pur" metal tools to apply the sand to the mandala. The area was cordoned off with prayer flags, so the children were able to get quite close without invading the sacred space.
The children were fascinated and very respectful. I, of course, had visions of G. tripping over a sandal and falling headlong over the flags into the center of the mandala, sand flying everywhere. But my fears were not realized as he stood mesmerized for about 5 minutes, at which point he was completely bored. I could have stood there all day and watched. It is quite amazing, really. We learned that there is a "mandala master" who oversees the placement of the sand and a "chanting master" who leads the monks in chanting.
Six days later, we went back to see the completion of the mandala and the ceremony that would take place at the end. Imagine, 6 days of painstaking attention to detail, knowing that the end result would be to sweep your creation away and throw the sand in the river. Can we really wrap our American consumerist mentalities around it?
The finished mandala. This picture doesn't do it justice. The colors are much deeper and richer, and they are applied in layers, giving it a raised appearance.
From the balcony.
After a short time of contemplating the mandala, the monks came in and sat and explained the mandala through an interpreter. They then donned their hats and began to chant and circle the mandala.
Then they began to dismantle it, one of the monks drawing four lines with his finger from the center to the outside edge of the mandala. They then began to sweep all of the sand into the center of the table, and just like that, it was gone.
After offering everyone a small packet of sand, the rest was gathered into a small jar and we all followed the monks, chanting and waving incense out of the museum and to the river. We passed quite a few surprised folks in the street and at the farmer's market!
I can't resist posting this picture.
After a few chants and prayers, the sand was poured into the river and the monks turned to leave and go back to India, having left us with an experience we will never forget and will always be grateful for.
If you are interested in learning more about Buddhism, check out this website. If you are interested in getting involved to help Tibet, check out www.freetibet.org.
The destruction of monasteries, the resettlement of Chinese into Tibet, the teaching of Chinese language and culture to Tibetan children at the expense of their own, all of these are deliberate and systematic attempts to obliterate Tibetan culture. Through the oppression of Tibetan religion/culture, the Chinese hope to eradicate Tibet and make it China. Can we afford to let that happen? Can we truly embody compassion and ensure that we do, what we consume, where we spend our money is not hurting anyone else? Can we come a bit closer to understanding that nothing is permanant, that everything ends, that selfless love is achievable? Aren't we worth the attempt?
