Thursday, April 07, 2005

Tibetan monks make mandala at Meadows

The Sand Mandala for World Healing is the title of this work by Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, India. The mandala, constructed in the main gallery of Meadows Museum, Centenary College, will be completed at noon on Friday, Ap 8. Following an interfaith ceremony - to be held under a tent aside the museum - the mandala will be destroyed.

The Tibetan monks will present Sacred Music Sacred Dance at the Strand Theater on Sunday, Ap 24. Tickets are at the Meadows.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish I could see that! - Annabel

Robert E Trudeau said...

Museum director Diane DuFilho said some 500 people crowded round the dispersal ceremony.

Robert E Trudeau said...

Found this today on Noma Fowler-Sandlin's blog at myspace.com and feel privileged to post it. In the middle of her post ...

Started out the day not so nice, though. The wonderful stick sculpture by Patrick Daugherty, Arcadia, came down. The people that pretend to know say it was caused by natural causes, but I beg to differ. The sculpture was getting dry and yes, I know it had to come down soon, but I wasn't finished exploring it with my eyes as I took breaks in front of artspace, enjoying all the coolness of downtown Shreveport. I loved to watch birds explore it, too. But I've noticed a lot of the wannapunks from Soundstage516 hanging on it and generally tearing it up on the weekends. I figure they just went on a destructo-binge that made the beginning of the end for Arcadia.

However, I just touched the world of truly egoless art. That put it all in perspective. I just came from the Meadows Museum where Buddhist Monks were dancing and playing horns and drums and working on sand mandala. They are so nice. I bought a lot of Tibetan things and learned to say thank you in Tibetan or whatever language it is they speak. "Tou de che." Sand mandalas are so amazing. They put all the work in the trip, not the destination. It's a labor of love, for sure. It cannot last. It won't last. And yet, it makes it no less beautiful. In fact, it makes it more precious. Fewer can see it.

The closest I've ever come to a sand mandala is making my annual caviar dip for the New Year's Celebration at the guan. I put a red/black caviar yingyang on it this year. It was time consuming and difficult. And the first child that cut into it mixed it all together. Sigh. But next year, I'll make it a mandala and smile when it's eaten.

Beauty is fleeting. Enjoy it while you can. Someday, even the pyramids will be dust. One day, you'll wake up and see nothing but sags and wrinkles. And even in them there is a kind of beauty that we must learn to see or be miserable with ourselves. People are the ultimate sand mandala. (And plastic surgery is like pouring sealant on the sand mandala.) I guess it's all a message for us to be in the moment and enjoy them as they come.

Robert E Trudeau said...

Also talked at length recently to Gregg Hornbeak, painter-sculptor, about spirituality and the importance of the Buddhist monks. He says he puts on a recording of their chant late at night in the studio, while working on projects.