Mystical Arts of Tibet May 20-23, 2008

Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery will construct a Mandala Sand Painting from Tuesday, May 20 to Friday, May 23 at the Allen’s Market Building at 101 East McIntosh Street in downtown Milledgeville. From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning sacred cosmogram. These cosmograms can be created in various media, such as watercolor on canvas, wood carvings, and so forth. However, the most spectacular and enduringly popular are those made from colored sand.

In general all mandalas have outer, inner and secret meanings. On the outer level they represent the world in its divine form; on the inner level they represent a map by which the ordinary human mind is transformed into enlightened mind; and on the secret level they depict the primordially perfect balance of the subtle energies of the body and the clear light dimension of the mind. The creation of a sand painting is said to effect purification and healing on these three levels. The mandala selected for the Milledgeville residency is “Akshobhya-The Unshakable Victor for conflict resolution and world peace”.

The mandala sand painting begins with an opening ceremony, during which the lamas consecrate the site and call forth the forces of goodness. This is done by means of chanting, music and mantra recitation, and will be held at 12:30 pm, Tuesday, May 20. Tickets for the opening ceremony are $5.00 each.

The lamas begin the exhibit by drawing an outline of the mandala on the wooden platform. On the following days they lay the colored sands. Each monk holds a traditional metal funnel called a chakpur while running a metal rod on its grated surface. The vibration causes the sands to flow like liquid onto the platform. The public is invited to view the mandala in Allen’s Market while it is under construction on Tuesday, May 20 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22 and from 9:00 am to 12 noon on Friday, May 23.

Traditionally most sand mandalas are destroyed shortly after their completion. This is done as a metaphor for the impermanence of life. The sands are swept up and placed in an urn; to fulfill the function of healing then half of the sand will be  distributed to the audience at the closing ceremony.  The remainder of the sand will be carried to the newly dedicated Oconee Greenspace, and during the final ceremony poured into the Oconee River. The waters of the Oconee will carry the healing blessing to the ocean, and from there it spreads throughout the world for planetary peace. The closing ceremony will begin at the Allen’s Market Building  at 12:30 pm on Friday, May 23 and end at the Oconee Greenspace. Tickets for the ceremony in Allen’s Market are $5.00 each. The public is invited to participate in the final ceremony at the Oconee River.

Two lectures by the head lama are scheduled for this residency on Thursday May, 22 in the Arts & Sciences Auditorium on the campus of Georgia College and State University. “Tibet Today”: The History of a Diaspora will be at 10:30 am. This lecture focuses on the contemporary Tibet situation: the invasion by Communist China in the 1950’s, the efforts of the refugees in exile to preserve their civilization, and the current situation in occupied Tibet. “Meditation: A Toll for Conscious Living: will be held at 1:00 pm. This lecture deals with meditation as an important technique for quieting the mind and establishing an inner basis of clarity and well-being. Both lectures are free and the public is invited to attend.

For more information on the mandala schedule including obtaining tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and the lecture series call Allied Arts at 478.452.3950.