Tibetan Sand Mandala
A mandala is a cosmic diagram that represents the dwelling place or celestial mansion of a deity. Both the deity, who reside in the mandala and the mandala itself are recognized as pure expressions of Buddha's fully enlightened mind. Mandala can be visualized, painted or constructed from wood, precious jewels, rice, flower and so forth. Sand is considered to be a superb medium because of its number and the great skill required to create the mandala's exquisite details.
According to Tibetan Buddhist history, the purpose, meaning and the techniques involved in the spiritual art of the sand mandala painting were taught by Buddha Sakyamuni in the 6th century B. C. in India. Mandalas are created for rituals of initiation and for meditations; it is also created to purify the environment and its inhabitants to promote harmony in the world.
Creation Process
The artist will chant before starting the mandala creation. Then the blue print of the mandala's design is outlined and the artist begins constructing the mandala from the center to outward. The colored sand is applied through a long metal funnel, called Chakpu. Since sand mandalas are created in the spirit of impermanence and non attachment, after they are completed, they are dismantled with a ceremony and the blessed sand is offered to the body of water for the benefit of marine life, the environment and all sentient beings.
About The Artist
The Venerable Lama Tenzin Yignyen is an ordained Tibetan Buddhist
monk. He holds a degree of "Master of Sutra and Tantra" studies from the
Namgyal Monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India.
Lama Tenzin taught Tibetan Buddhism, art and language at Namgyal branch
monastery in Ithaca, N.Y. for three years. He has created sand mandalas
in many museums and educational institutions throughout the United
States including the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, The Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles, Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, and the
Asia Society in New York City. Lama Tenzin currently lives in Geneva,
N.Y. and is a visiting professor for Tibetan Buddhism at Hobart and
William Smith Colleges.
More information
Some Past Mandala Art Exhibitions:
2006
Harley School, Rochester, NY
St. John's Nursing Home, Rochester, NY
Morris School, South Hampton
Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY
Yoga Ashram, Nassua, Bahamas
Peaceweavers , Bath, NY
EcoFest, NYC
AAAC, NY
Hobart & William Smith College, Geneva, NY
2005
Yoga Ashram, Canada
Yoga Ashram, Nassua, Bahamas
Morris Central School, South Hampton
Brearly Girl's School, NYC
Putney School, Putney, VT
St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
Hobart & William Smith College, Geneva, NY
India Tour with 20 students - Fall term
2004
Putney School, Putney, VT.
Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY
Katonah Museum, N.Y.
MIT, Boston, MA
Bard College, N.Y
Horace Mann School, NY
Lincoln Center, NY
Dalton School, New York City
2003
Bard College, N.Y.
Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Grass Valley, San Francisco, Calif.
Yoga Center, Montreal Canada
2002
Yoga Ashram, Nassua, Bahamas
Union College, NJ
Riverdale School, NY
CIA, Durango, Colo.
Grass Valley Yoga Center, CA
Adirondack Lake Art Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
Peaceweavers , Bath, NY
2001
Dalton School, New York City
CMA, Cleveland, OH
Peaceweavers , Bath, NY
Hammond Museum, NY
Wagner College, Staten Island, NYC
2000
Smithsonian Festival in Washington, D.C.
AAAC in New York City
Amitabha Foundation, Rochester, NY
Tibetan Museum of Art, Staten Island, NY
1999
St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.
Rotunda Art Gallery and NY/ Newseum in New York City
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y.
Cleveland Institute of Arts, Cleveland, OH
1998
Horace Mann, Poly-Prep and New Dorp high schools in New York City
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y.
1997
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
Asia Society, New York City
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, N.Y.
Universal Studio, Los Angeles, Calif.
1994
Gandan Monastary in UB Mongolia
1989
Wind Star Foundation, Aspan Colorado
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Calif.