By Sharon Bruce-Gamble
Encountering the Gyuto Tibetan monk culture yesterday left Shepparton Catholic school students speechless.
Notre Dame College and St Brendan’s Primary School students silently watched with fascination as the monks painstakingly created an ancient Sand Mandala.
The brightly coloured 500-year-old image is used by the monks as a meditation tool and depicts a perfect world.
During their week-long visit to Notre Dame College, the monks will teach the students Tibetan art and the unique sound of Gyuto harmonic chanting.
Senior monk Sonam Rigzin said the monks hoped to teach the children love and compassion to promote world peace.
Notre Dame College asian studies network leader Wendy Watt said the visit gave students the chance to experience another culture first-hand.
“It’s breaking down the cultural barriers,” Mrs Watt said.
“And giving them (the students) a real sense of them (the monks) as ordinary people.”
On Friday the visiting monks will compete against Notre Dame College teachers in a game of cricket beginning at 1 pm.
