Buddhist Monks To Build Sand Exhibit In Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. – A group of Buddhist monks will build a "healing" sand exhibit at Western Connecticut State College to mark the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to the Danbury school. The project will begin Monday at the college’s Westside Campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension.

The monks will construct what is called a Compassion Mandala, “a three-dimensional representation of the world in its divine form,” according to school officials. They will sit on the floor to build the exhibit using millions of grains of colorful sand.

The mandala is designed to generate compassion, and on Oct. 19 it will be dispersed into water on the campus to “spread its blessed healing intentions into the universe,” the school said in a statement.

The project is being carried out in conjunction with the Do Ngak Kunphen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace in Redding, which is co-sponsoring the Dalai Lama’s visit, and the Sacred Art Tour Group Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery.

A ceremony marking the beginning of work on the exhibit will take place at 9:30 p.m. Monday, with construction continuing Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Viewing of the creation will take place Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and it will be dispersed Friday at 12:45 p.m.

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