Sand mandala constructed at GBPAC

Students at the University of Northern Iowa got to take a hands-on approach to an ancient Buddhist art form this week. While tour visitors from the Tibetan Cultural Institute and the University of Arkansas construct a large sand mandala in the lobby of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, students can get a feel for the intricacies of making a sand mandala by working on several smaller mandalas in the GBPAC.

UNI senior Alissa Meskimen watched the large sand mandala being built and decided to try working on one of the smaller ones for students. Meskimen advised other students to try it.

“It’s really relaxing, and I feel like I’m concentrating really hard. It’s a good stress reliever,” she said.” I thought it was amazing.”

Sand mandalas are made using geometric patterns filled in with colored sand using funnels, tubes and scrapers. These mandalas have major spiritual significance within Tibetan Buddhism.

“The sand mandala is the presentation of pure environment that we create out of intent with love, compassion, wisdom and detachment,” said Geshe Thupten Dorjee, one of the visitors from the Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas.

Dorjee said this deliberate intent to improve the world and one’s self is critical to building the sand mandala.

“Without that intent, a beautiful object can become deadly,” he said.

He added that the idea of intent extends beyond building sand mandalas into everyday life in Buddhist teachings.

“It’s very important, as soon as you get out of bed (each morning), to try and be a better person,” Dorjee said. “You don’t have to be miserable.” 

Dorjee cited the Dalai Lama as someone who lives up to this ideal by staying positive despite being exiled from his homeland in Tibet.

Building and seeing the sand mandala can help people find intent, according to Dorjee.

“It’s incredible how much this can make a difference in students’ lives. You can see it,” he said.
Along with the sand mandala, Professor James Robinson will led a book talk over the Dalai Lama’s book “The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of its Philosophy and Practice” on Thursday.

Construction on the sand mandala will continue throughout this week until Saturday. On Sunday 1:30 p.m., there will be a closing ceremony at the GBPAC open to the public where the finished sand mandala will be destroyed. Dorjee explained that destroying the mandala is “a symbol of impermanence.”

Sand from the mandala will be given to the audience after the mandala is destroyed.

The public can observe the construction of the mandala today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of the GBPAC.

1 comments

Laura Foster

Wed Jun 3 2009 10:05

I saw the mandala under construction, and it was amazing.
Just from an artistic point of view, the lines were so crisp, and the colors so vibrant- it was hard to believe it was all just made of tiny grains of white sand (dyed with granular pastels). The tubes that were used to place the sand had rasps on the outside, which were scraped in order to vibrate the sand out and onto the table. The sound of the rasps changed depending on the size of the tube and how full it was- it was almost like music, but strange to me and added to the experience. I wasn't available to see the destruction of the mandala, but on one of the information sheets they gave out, it's destruction symbolized the mortality of humanity, and how acceptance of that mortality helps us improve spiritually.
I wish we had more cultural events like this! I had a really good time, and I learned a lot that I wouldn't have known if the event weren't on campus.

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