Monks of the Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India began construction of a “Buddha of Wisdom” mandala on Tuesday at Sorrel Sky Gallery. The mandala is usually used when initiating a monk into a high form of meditation and can represent his vision of the entire universe. The mandalas take between 75 and 125 hours of work. Several monks work on it at once using an array of colors made of powdered and dyed stone, sand, dust, flowers and charcoal. The monks will continue to create the mandala from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. At 4 p.m. Saturday, they will ritualistically dismantle it and pour it into the Animas River as a symbol of life’s impermanence. Attendees will receive a small portion of the sand as a remembrance.
Herald Staff
If you go
Tibetan monks of the Gaden Shartse Monastery events:
Today – July 15: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. Construction of sand mandala.
Today: 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East Third Ave. Monks talk: “The Six Perfections.” Suggested donation $10-$20.
Thursday: 6:30 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd., Bldg. C #201 (upstairs). Ritual chanting. Suggested donation $10-$20.
Friday: 7 p.m., Himalayan Kitchen, 992 Main Ave. Monks talk: Climate change and the six delusions. Suggested Donation: $10-$20.
July 15: 4 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. Sand mandala closing ceremony. The monks will carry the mandala to the Animas River.
July 15: 7 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 East Third Ave. The monks join local religious leaders for a discussion about world peace and unity of religions.
To schedule a blessing, call Samantha at 769-2494.
