The Mystical Arts of Tibet, featuring the Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery
Thu May 2 – Sun, May 5
Entrance to the special exhibition Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment
From May 2 – May 5, Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India will construct a sand mandala and perform music and chant ceremonies. The mandala will be swept away in a closing ceremony on August 3.
The Mystical Arts of Tibet is a world tour that has been in practice for over 25 years and is endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The goal of the tour is to share Tibet’s rich, authentic and sacred performing and visual arts with audiences all over the world.
Opening Ceremony
Thu, May 2 | noon–1 pm
Construction of Mandala | 1:00–6:00 pm
Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India will conduct an opening ceremony and blessing of the site through chanting, music, and mantra recitation as they prepare for the creation of the mandala. They then begin the painting by drawing an outline of the mandala on a wooden platform.
Construction of Mandala
Thu, May 2 | 1:00–6:00 pm
Fri, May 3 – Sun May 5 | 10:00 am–5:00 pm
The monks will construct a mandala during the opening weekend of the special exhibition by laying millions of grains of sand into place using a traditional metal funnel called chakpur.
Closing Ceremony
Sat, Aug 3 | 11:00 am–noon
At the opening of the Awaken exhibition, Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in southern India constructed a sand mandala. The monks will dismantle the mandala, in a closing ceremony, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists.