Four Tibetan Buddhist monks from Ladakh, India are currently constructing a sand mandala at the Lawrence Arts Center. The mandala will be dissolved and distributed to the public in a ceremony Saturday.
Monks Geshe Lobzang Samstan, Thupten Kalsang, Thupten Rinchen and Kunga Nyingpo began constructing a Green Tara Mandala at the arts center on Tuesday.
Green Tara is a female figure in Buddhism who is often considered a bodhisattva, or an individual striving for enlightenment who might delay nirvana to provide guidance to others seeking the same.
“Green Tara is known as the ‘Mother of All Buddhas’ who protects beings from suffering, fear, and disease,” according to the LAC event page.
In selecting the Green Tara Sand Mandala, the group is creating a visual prayer for healing and protection while emphasizing values of compassion and interconnection. The subject matter also pays homage to the Dalai Lama’s guidance during the pandemic, as he encouraged followers to recite Tara’s mantra.
By constructing a mandala in Lawrence, the monks aim to initiate a cultural and educational exchange while sharing the blessing of the art as well as Buddhist teachings and practices. These practitioners hail from Leh, a city in Ladakh, which has centurieslong ties to Buddhism and Tibetan traditions. Containing many diverse ethnic groups, Ladakh was established as an Indian union territory in 2019.
Geshe Samstan, the monk leading the group, is the founder of Sri Nalanda Dharma Center and director of Jamyang Boarding School in Ladakh.
“These two institutes were founded with the instruction and support of the Dalai Lama to provide free, quality education to children in remote, disadvantaged communities in Ladakh, and to help preserve local culture, traditions, and Buddhist values,” according to LAC.
A pop-up gift shop at LAC with crafts from Ladakh will generate proceeds for the school to offset overhead costs while bolstering educational programs, health care and more.
Participate
Visitors can observe the mandala’s creation throughout the week and participate in interactive events.
The mandala will be dissolved and the sand distributed to members of the public, followed by prayers at the Kaw River, in a concluding ceremony Saturday starting at the arts center, 940 New Hampshire St.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the week, provided from LAC’s webpage:
Thursday, Aug. 14
- 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Creation of Green Tara sand mandala
- 2 – 2:45 p.m.: Short talk and hands-on experience
Friday, Aug. 15
- 1 – 7 p.m.: Creation of Green Tara sand mandala
- 5 – 6 p.m.: Short talk and hands-on experience
Saturday, Aug. 16
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Creation of Green Tara Sand mandala
- 4 – 4:15 p.m.: Concluding talk by Geshe Samtan
- 4:15 – 4:30 p.m.: Concluding remarks by the representative of Lawrence Arts Center
- 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Concluding ceremony. Dissolution of mandala and distribution sand to the public, with final prayers by the Kaw River
Depending on the heat, the timing of the walk to the Kaw River may be adjusted.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
