Tibetan Monks Mandala – Day One

August 26th, 2011

St. Louis is being blessed with a sand mandala for peace created over five days by Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in Southern India.  I attended the opening ceremony on Wednesday, the 24th.  It began at noon and continued for over an hour.  The eight monks created a blessing ceremony of chants and prayers, at time using instruments.  The healing and beautiful sounds filled the room of Macrosun, a cultural center and store for Tibetan, Indian, Nepalese and other Asian arts.
Eight Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery are touring the United States with three goals. 1) To bring peace and loving kindness to the world.  The sand mandala being created is a Peace Mandala.  2) To bring awareness to the plight of Tibet and the destruction of human rights,  culture and religion going on in Tibet today.  The monks ask for continued support by individuals and government. 3) To raise funds for their Monastery and its programs.

The spiritual leader of the Drepung Gomang Monastery is the Dalai Lama.  The Monks created an alter with a photo of his Holiness.  After the blessing ceremony, the Monks began to draw the outlines of the design onto the blue base of the sand mandala. Using permanent markers, compasses and rulers the design takes form.  At the end of the day the entire outline is created.  A closing ceremony ends the day and brings blessings.

At the end of day two the Sand Mandala for Peace begins to be filled with beautiful designs.

Stay tuned for the changes as the mandala continues to fill with beautiful designs.   If you are in St. Louis please come visit to view the creation of this powerful sand mandala, until Sunday August 28th.  A Mandala dissolution and closing ceremony takes place at 5 pm Sunday,  at Macrosun and the Mississippi river.  At the end of each day there is a closing ceremony with chanting.  The address is 1310 Washington Ave, St. Louis 63103  in downtown.  Also the Monks are chanting tonight at the Big Bend Yoga Center, 88 N. Gore in Webster Groves.  The Monks will also be part of the International Festival of Nations taking place this weekend in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis.

If you are interested in donating to the Drepung Gomang Monastery please visit their website, or contact MacroSun in St. Louis.