The Tibetan Monks are at Furman this week, promoting awareness of their country and the Free Tibet movement. Part of their activities included the creation of an elaborate sand mandala – part worship, and part prayer.
The mandala is build up grain by grain with colored sand in a meticulous process. The final product has vivid colors and raised textures, and includes symbols important to Buddhist tradition. The mandala also symbolizes the temporal nature of all things. After it’s completion, an elaborate ritual is held in which the mandala is destroyed. The sands are then cast into a flowing body of water so that the prayers it contains may be distributed throughout the earth.
[tags]Free Tibet, Buddishm, Sand Mandala[/tags]