Finally! Part 2 of 5 - Monks/Lamas

Lily Dale always has a Native American Tribe or some Honored Guests that come for opening weekend. This year is was the Tibetan Monks (truly called Lamas, Americans call them Monks) from the Drepung Loseling Monastery. This Monastery is a reproduction of the biggest one in Tibet before the Chinese invasion causing them to live in exile in 1959. They came to Lily Dale to do a Mandala for the community. There were 9 Monks (Lamas) in total with a Spokesman/Interpreter. They each know how to build the Mandala. It takes 8 YEARS to learn one Mandala, and there are many they learn to do.

With simple compass, ruler, string and chalk. The measure and draw the design with sacred geometry passed down for generations.

Finishing up the measurements and starting the sand pouring.

You can see the first grains of sand being poured.

Once the first lines are drawn, they did more drawing.

The full Mandal takes 30 hours. they work on it all day accept when they are doing ceremonial events and performances. if they have any events outside of this room, they must dismantle the Altar and re assemble it where ever the event will happen. the Monks alone do this work. They had an amazing Sacred Dance performance on Saturday night. 

I had hoped you could see the hills and valleys in the picture.  Up close the each line has a specific height as part of the design.

The finished Mandala. 

The Closing ceremony involves dissecting the Mandala in very specific way, then sweeping the sand into a large pile. they then share the sand with everyone in attendance. The sand left over is paraded through town to a water source that leads into the ocean. This happens to spread the peace that was invoked by the Mandala throughout the world. I have a baggy if you want to see it. It is quite stunning.

While the Lamas were in town they were very joyous and playful. Many people had reports of them playing on the play equipment for the children, their robes flapping in the wind. We were able to enjoy them playing basketball with the local children. They played with a freedom and joy that I think we all dream of.

Each of them were so open hearted, a huge smile on their faces, simply happy! The room they worked on the Mandala was the dinning hall of the fire station. Entering that room you were hit with a peaceful energy. I loved just sitting and watching them work.