THE MANDALA PROJECT MONKS ARE HERE THIS WEEK

From the Township:

Maplewood Mandala Project Mandala (Sanskrit 'circle') a spiritual and ritual symbol representing the cosmos in Hinduism and Buddhism. Beginning Monday, August 10 through Saturday, August 15, 2015, five Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Tibet will be in residence in Maplewood, NJ to create a magnificent work of mandala sand art inside the Great Hall at the Woodland, located at 60 Woodland Rd. in Maplewood NJ. This mesmerizing feat of artistry and concentration requires over 30 hours to complete with the monks working up to eight hours per day. The public is invited free of charge to observe the construction of the sand painting. The Mandala is open to the public on the dates and times specified below. In addition, the public is able to watch live stream of the project from the comfort of their homes at the links below.

Schedule

Monday 8/10 - Watch Live

4-5PM Opening Ceremony
The monks begin by preparing the site for the Mandala Sand Painting with approximately 30 minutes of chants, music, and possibly dance.

5-8PM Drawing of the Lines
After the Opening Ceremony, the monks start drawing the line design for the Mandala. This is very tedious and exacting work that takes about three hours to complete.

Tuesday 8/11 - Watch Live

10AM-5:30PM Mandala Construction
Mandala construction by the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery. The monks pour millions of grains of sand into place over a period of days, using traditional metal funnels called chak-pur. The finished mandala is approximately 4' x 4' in size.

Wednesday 8/12 - Watch Live

12-8PM Mandala Construction
Mandala construction by the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery continues.

Thursday 8/13 - Watch Live

12-8PM Mandala Construction
Mandala construction by the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery continue.

Friday 8/14 - Watch Live

12-8PM Mandala Construction
Mandala construction by the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery continues.

Saturday 8/15 - Watch Live

12-5PM Mandala Construction
Mandala construction by the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery continues.

5-6PM Completed Mandala Viewing

6-7PM Closing Ceremony
The monks conclude their creation of the Mandala with its consecration. During the closing ceremony, the monks dismantle the Mandala, sweeping up the colored sand, half of the sand may then be distributed to the audience in small bags or vials.

7-7:30PM Dispersal of the Sand
The remaining sand is carried in a procession by the monks, accompanied by guests, to a flowing body of water. Here the sand is ceremonially poured into the water, thus dispersing the healing energies of the mandala throughout the world.