The Tibetan Buddhist monks visiting Cal Poly ended their four-day stay with a closing ceremony in which they destroyed the sand mandala they created in the University Union. More than 60 people attended the ceremony, silently watching as the intricate design of millions of grains of colored sand was swept up and then poured into a nearby creek.
The eight monks, members of the Drepung Loseling monastery in South India, visited Cal Poly as part of The Mystical Arts of Tibet tour, which shares Tibetan culture and raises awareness of the tumultuous situation in Tibet. Throughout the week, the monks spent hours creating a bright, multicolored sand mandala on a table in the UU; community members also placed sand in a smaller version designed by a Cal Poly student. In addition, the monks performed their Sacred Music Sacred Dance program in the Christopher Cohan Center of the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center Thursday evening.
On Friday, the closing ceremony meant the destruction of the mandala, which symbolizes the impermanence of life, showing how nothing lasts forever.
The monks began the ceremony by chanting and playing instruments, including symbols, a drum and two 12-foot horns. Then the head monk placed a small yellow flower in the middle of the mandala and pushed lines of sand from the outside of the design toward the flower. Another monk stepped in and used a brush to sweep the sand into a pile, covering the flower.
Cal Poly 1972 graduate Patra Rae Nesseth-Steffes said she’s seen many of these ceremonies, because she’s a member of the American Himalayan Foundation in San Francisco.
“It was just great. It was very nice. It was insightful, and I learned a lot,” she said.
Many people photographed the ceremony, which Cal Poly Spanish lecturer Nancy Rucci said was interesting, because the mandala is supposed to show us that life isn’t endless.
“That’s us,” she said. “We don’t go to the temporary stuff very easily.”
After sweeping the sand into a pile, the monks scooped half of it into tiny vials, which they distributed to the audience. In their religion, the sand has blessing powers. Rucci said she plans to pour some of her sand into the ocean and give some to her father and sister-in-law, both of whom are ill.
The monks carried the other half of the sand with them as they led a procession out of the University Union and to Santa Rosa Park, where the rest of the ceremony took place at Stenner Creek. They began chanting and playing their instruments, their heads bowed and their eyes closed. Then one monk poured the sand into the creek, where it will flow to the ocean and spread its healing power.
English graduate student Chelsea Lynn said the ceremony was one of the most beautiful and touching things she has experienced.
“The selflessness of the monks and just how they’re doing this for the world is such a beautiful message,” she said.
Lynn said she has always been interested in Buddhism and plans to help Tibet by getting people to mobilize.
The Mystical Arts of Tibet tour was coordinated by the Drepung Loseling monastery and Richard Gere Productions. Each touring group of monks visits more than 100 cities in the United States, plus other cities worldwide. For most of the monks, this was their first tour, although some have been on multiple trips. This particular group is returning to the monastery in India in December.
Thupten Tendhar, the monks’ translator, said the monks have enjoyed traveling in the U.S. because of the opportunity to meet people from various cultures and religions.
At first, the constant traveling was tiring, but knowing and realizing how they have contributed to peace and harmony strengthens them to continue, he said.
Tendhar said the monks are fun to travel with. He said in the van they chant, debate and sometimes play games.
He added that many of the monks said San Luis Obispo is something like a paradise, because everything is green and beautiful.
They enjoy being able to share their art and culture and raise awareness about the situation in Tibet, he said.
“As we travel from place to place we get to meet people and share. They ask questions and many people want to get involved because they hear lots about Tibet and the control of the media and monasteries.”
He recommended that people who want to get involved should check out non-governmental organizations like International Campaign for Tibet or Students for a Free Tibet. There are others that run schools and hospitals in Tibet that also need support.
“We need better education and health care for Tibetans who have been struggling to preserve their tradition and for survival,” he said.