Photo by Matt Cashore '94
Last week, six Buddhist monks of the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, paid a visit to Notre Dame to construct a sacred Peace Sand Mandala in the Jordan Hall of Science reading room.
The monks have been traveling throughout the United States for the past seven months, teaching about Buddhism, educating the public about the culture and religion of Tibet and raising money for their monastery. This trip marked Labrang Tashi Kyil’s second appearance at Notre Dame — their monks also created a mandala on campus during their 2013 American tour.
The Buddhist tradition of sand mandalas involves the creation and destruction of spiritual and ritual symbols made from colored sand. In this photo, four monks in crimson robes sit cross-legged in a circle while they drop sand grain by grain onto the square to create the mandala. Small plastic containers hold various colors.
The monks worked on the mandala throughout the week, and upon completion, it was dismantled to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists.
Photo of the Week highlights images of notable happenings on campus and in the Notre Dame family around the world. Have a snapshot you think we should see? Email scahalan@nd.edu to be considered for publication.
Claire Radler is an intern at this magazine.