They create a sand mandala to raise awareness for world peace.
By DAN DE CARBONEL
MONMOUTH — Almost grain by grain, they are creating beauty out of nothingness.
The Tibetan Monks from Kyidong Samtenling Monastery will complete their sand mandala today at Western Oregon University’s Hamersly Library.
Pasan Tenzin, one of the four monks on a monthlong tour of the West Coast, said the group hopes to promote Tibetan culture and raise awareness for world peace.
“This is a very ancient culture,” he said. “We need to keep it going forever.”
As Samten Lama and Lakpa Lama used a knife to rasp against a funnel to control the flow of crushed stone brought from Asia, Tenzin created figures out of a wax and butter substance that, like the mandala, eventually will disappear.
“Like the mandala, it is meant to represent the impermanence of beauty,” Tenzin said.
The mandala being constructed in the lobby of the library is only one tile of the traditional five-by-five tile mandala.
The colors and intricacy of the monks’ work, as they crouched on the wooden platform, impressed onlookers.
“I think it’s cool,” said Coco Rollings, a junior criminal justice major. “It makes me want to stay here and watch. I don’t want to study.”
The monks will continue to work on the mandala today at the library, beginning at 9 a.m.
The event also includes a forum on world peace and Nobel Peace laureates at noon in the Oregon Room.
A ceremony casting the sand into the Willamette River at Riverview Park in Independence will follow at 2 p.m.
“I couldn’t do that,” said Frank Segarra, a senior criminal justice major. “The fact that they put in all that work, then destroy it later — I couldn’t do that.”
The Samtenling Monastery is home to 100 monks who follow the teachings of the Dalai Lama. It is where young monks are taught the discipline it takes to follow each line and every excruciating detail of the mandala.
And the young monks learn quickly that mistakes aren’t easily overcome. When a line veers off course or a design is marred, the monks must use the funnels to suction the offending particles.
But mistakes are rare.
“People appreciate this work,” said group leader Geshe Kalsang Damdul. “They understand the focus and how it teaches you discipline. It’s very tedious work.”
Dan de Carbonel can be reached at (503) 399-6714.
