Intricate and impermanent: Tibetan monks at the Carnegie Center.

Tibetan monks have arrived at the Carnegie Center,  beginning work yesterday on a World Peace sand mandala that will continue throughout the week. Visitors can stop in any time during daily construction in addition to attending the related programs. Text, photos, and remaining schedule provided by the Carnegie.

Seven Tibetan monks from the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehradun, India will be creating a World Peace sand mandala in the foyer of the Carnegie Center from Tuesday July 9 through Saturday July 13, 2013. They will also be presenting an evening cultural program and a Tibetan art workshop for children. Tibetan merchandise will be available for sale during the hours of the mandala construction. Proceeds from the sale of merchandise benefit the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery. The monks are touring the United States in conjunction with the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana. The goals of this tour are to provide information about Tibetan culture, deliver a message of mutual understanding and tolerance, and to raise awareness and support for their reestablished monastery in India. The complete schedule of activities during the monks’ visit to the Carnegie Center is as follows:

Tibetan Sand Mandala
Tibetan monks have long produced intricate designs by carefully depositing finely ground colored stone using specially designed funnels call chak pur.  After days of painstaking work, the finished design is swept away as a powerful reminder of the Buddhist principal of impermanence. The sand is then poured into a flowing body of water as an offering of the merit created to all beings.

July 10-12      11:00 am-5:00 pm    Mandala construction
July 13           12:00-1:30 pm          Closing ceremony,
                                                        Mandala deconstruction,
                                                       and procession to river

Evening Talk and Cultural Presentation
Thursday July 11, 6:00-7:30 pm

The monks of Tashi Kyil monastery will give a presentation on Tibetan monastic life, an overview of the history of their monastery, and demonstration of Tibetan monastic chanting and debate. Suggested donation is $5; however no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Tibetan Art Workshops
Friday July 12, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
*Registration required

An opportunity for children from ages 5-12 to work with Tibetan monks to produce their own sand paintings and Tibetan butter sculptures (using play dough). Parents are encouraged to attend. Space is limited to 20 participants. Suggested donation is $10; however, no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Register by noon on Thursday July 11 (please call 812-944-7336 to register).