Gallery: Tibetan Monks Create Mandala Sand Painting

Tibetan Buddhist Monks will create a work of art in Oakton this week, only to wash it all away by Sunday.

The monks are visiting the Unity of Fairfax Church from the The Mystical Arts of Tibet, a traveling troupe from the Drepung Loseling Monastery. 

During their visit, they are creating a mandala sand painting at the church. The paintings are created by laying grains of sand onto a flat platform.

“The host chose to create this mandala, which represents conflict resolution,” said Lobsang Norbu, spokesman for the troupe. 

The ceremony began Tuesday, with sacred chants and rituals. While the monks will work to create the paintings for about 100 hours, they will be destroyed in a ceremony Sunday as a symbol of impermanence. The public is invited to watch the paintings being created all this week.

Several lectures will take place next week to further explain the ritual. 

The events take place at Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Road. For information on tickets, visit www.unityoffairfax.org or call the Unity of Fairfax office at 703-281-1767.

Schedule of events from Unity of Fairfax:  

• July 24-27:  Creation of Mandala (free, hours posted at http://www.unityoffairfax.org/auspicious-event)
• 7:30 p.m. on July 24: Lecture on Tibet today (ticket required, $15)
• 7:30 p.m. on July 26: Sacred music, sacred dance (ticket required, $20 adults, $15 children)
• 7:30 p.m. on July 27 – Lecture on symbolism of the sand mandala (ticket required, $15)
• 2:00 p.m. on July 28– Closing ceremony (free) Unity of Fairfax Worship Services at 9:00 a.m. and 11 a.m.