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Mandala opening ceremony highlights monks’ visit

 

Monks from the DrepungLoseling Monastery area heading to the Aspen Art Museum tomorrow to begin the ancient art of mandala.

 

The monks create sand for the Mandala sand paintings by rubbing dyed stones on metal scrapers...they then aim the sand into a large pre-designed pattern atop a table.

The pieces can take weeks to complete.

When they’re finished, a special ceremony is held where the sand is collected in a jar and emptied near running water.

 

Director of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, explains the works of art as a tangible way to express the process of enlightenment.

 

“It’s a roadmap, if you will, for enlightenment. It represents an enlightened world, but also the process by which one can attain inner enlightenment.”

 

The opening ceremony starts at noon. The monks will work on the mandala until Wednesday.