TruthBook Religious News Blog

Originally published May 09, 2009
By Ron Cassie
News-Post Staff

Burgundy- and saffron-robed monks offered deep chants and prayers while they created a colorful sand mandala last week. And some 250 professors, students and townspeople crammed Scarborough Library at Shepherd University to glimpse their sacred art.

Of all of the Tantric Buddhist artistic traditions, the 1,200-year-old sand painting remains one of the most intriguing and exquisite. Tibetans refer to it as the "architecture of enlightenment."

Tenzin Phentsok explained the mandala symbols: the Lotus Flower, representing spiritual purity and divine origination; the Eight-Spoked Wheel, representing the Eight-Fold Path; and the Knot of Eternity acknowledging the interdependent nature of existence. All are meditations on aspects of Tibetan Buddhism.

In accordance with tradition, the mandala was destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists. A parade from the library followed the monks several blocks up to Town Run stream where the sand was poured into the water.

"Our blessed sand and prayers are released into a flowing body of water so that they will eventually be carried into the oceans and to the other continents around world," Phentsok said. "It is a very powerful healing practice."

All 10 of the monks who visited Shepherd University last week as part of a four-day residency program are from India. "All originally from Tibetan families," Phentsok said.

"I think the people of the United States are freedom lovers, people who love freedom and democracy and live with more openness to new things," Phentsok said. "That's why I believe the Tibetan culture is embraced here, it is very much based on openness, as well as love, compassion and wisdom."

Phentsok said the traveling group's mission is to bring more peace and happiness to the world.

"As sentient beings we all want to be free from suffering," he said. "All happiness involves inner values, not materialistic things, which provide not even a single moment of recurring joy and happiness."

Please click on "external source" to view the mandala and read the entire article.

Labels: Buddhism, global peace, kindness, mandala, Ron Cassie

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