Sand Mandallas
One of the most visually engaging and spiritually meaningful Tibetan Buddhist activities is the creation and dissolution of sand mandalas by skilled Tibetan monks trained at Sera Mey monastery in India. Mandalas are an ancient form of art created over several days during a sacred ritual. In the opening ceremonies the monks consecrate the space, chanting mantra prayers to call forth all goodness and compassion. Using millions of grains of colorful sand the monks create a three dimensional representation of the world in its divine form. In the closing ceremony it is dissolved in recognition of the impermanence of all things and its sands dispersed into water to spread its blessed healing intentions into the universe.
