2008 Woodie Awards
RSSMonks complete mandala, then deconstruct sculpture
By Brandon Sherman
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: News
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Its construction took place from Oct. 22 to 26. The sand was immediately dismantled and subsequently released into the Lehigh River in a ceremony Friday morning.
The dismantling ritual is intended to disseminate the blessings of the mandala into the world, and it is symbolic of the impermanence of all things in life, according to a university relations press release.
Members of the Lehigh community stopped by Linderman throughout the week to view the mandala.
One monk spoke to the press and curious spectators while his counterparts worked on the mandala.
"It's good that people do show interest and come and ask questions," Tenzin Thutop said.
The Chenrezig mandala, which is said to represent compassion and all of the Buddha's loving kindness, was constructed in honor of the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit in July 2008.
The design depicts five deities overcoming delusions of ignorance, anger, attachment, jealousy and pride. Thutop said the true message of the mandala depends on how the individual interprets it.
"We are all human beings and we all have different challenges and emotions," Thutop said. "There is a lot of meaning inside of this, but some people might just observe this as merely art."
University Chaplain Lloyd Steffen said the mandala helped introduce the community to Buddhism.
"It's an outreach to the Lehigh community so that people here can have some kind of exposure to Tibetan Buddhism in a very immediate way," Steffen said.
