There are special gloves for metal objects, masks for potentially toxic things, and a smattering of suppressors that will, in case of fire, deplete our archives of oxygen and rescue our collection from a devastating accident. The old must give way for the new to take hold.Īt Special Collections, we try very hard not to destroy any of our holdings. For some, this reminder of impermanence can be disheartening or depressing, but for Buddhists the end of a life means that the next one will begin. Buddhists explain that the dismantling is crucial, as it shows that even beautiful things are transitory, and nothing material in this world is permanent. Once completed, it is carefully and ritualistically deconstructed, and the grains of sands are poured into nearby streams so that its healing powers can reach out and protect the world. However, a sand mandala is not created for posterity. A finished sand mandala is a work of art meant to evoke feelings of magic and energy, while often including symbols and deities from the Buddhist pantheon. These beautifully intricate creations, geometric and colorful in their design, take weeks, sometimes even months, to complete. Written by Erna Anderson, Graduate Student Apprentice.Ī common and complex practice within Tibetan Buddhism is the millenia-old, slow and careful creation of sand mandalas.
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