From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique and exquisite. In Tibetan this art is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which literally means "mandala of colored powders." Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days or weeks. Formed of a traditional prescribed iconography that includes geometric shapes and a

multitude of ancient spiritual symbols, the sand-painted mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants.

 

The lamas begin the work by drawing an outline of the mandala on the wooden platform, followed by the laying of the colored sands, which is effected by pouring the sand from traditional metal funnels called chak-purs. Each monk holds a chak-pur in one hand, while running a metal rod on its grated surface; the vibration causes the sands to flow like liquid. Traditionally most sand mandalas are deconstructed shortly after their

completion. This is done as a metaphor of the impermanence of life. The sands are swept up and placed in an urn; to fulfill the function of healing, half is distributed to the audience at the closing ceremony, while the remainder is carried to a nearby body of water, where it is deposited. The waters then carry the healing blessing to the ocean, and from there it spreads throughout the world for planetary healing.

 

There will also be a community mandala that all are invited to help construct! Any time that you come view the exhibition, you can work on the community mandala.​

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What is The Mystical Arts of Tibet?

The Mystical Arts of Tibet is a world tour produced by Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta, GA. There are two main programs: Sacred Music, Sacred Chants for Peace & Healing, a 90 minute stage performance, and the Mandala Sand Painting live exhibition. The Mystical Arts of Tibet also offers complementary programs, including a photo exhibit, lectures and workshops.

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What is the purpose of The Mystical Arts of Tibet tours?

Endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Richard Gere with the direct guidance of Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, the tours have three basic purposes: to make a contribution to world peace and healing through sacred art; to generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization; and to raise support for the Tibetan refugee community in India.

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When did the tours begin?

In 1988-89 eight monks undertook Drepung Loseling’s first world tour. Jointly sponsored by the Canada Tibet Friendship Society and Richard Gere of Tibet House, NY, and billed as “Sacred Music, Sacred Dance for World Peace,” the group performed their traditional monastic music and masked dances in 130 cities in North America and Europe. They were previewed and reviewed in hundreds of newspapers, and made numerous radio and television appearances. Wearing rich brocade costumes and playing 12-foot-long trumpets, they were greeted by full houses wherever they went. Inspired by the success of this first visit to the West, the monastery agreed to continue sharing their sacred arts for world peace and healing. The tours have continued since then, with each touring group visiting more than 100 cities in the United States, as well as many in South and Central America, and often Europe and Asia.

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Who are the artists, and where do they come from?

The artists are monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery, which has been re-established in exile in south India. The performers on The Mystical Arts of Tibet tour are not full-time professionals; rather they are genuine monks who are taking time off from their life-long devotion to contemplation and study to participate in the tour. These monk artists consider it an honor to be selected to represent their monastery and share their cultural traditions on the tour, hoping that they will be able to make some small contribution toward world peace and toward greater awareness of the Tibetan situation. At the end of each tour the monks return to Drepung Loseling Monastery to continue their vocation.

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How are the monks selected?

For each Mystical Arts of Tibet tour, the monastery selects a group of monks who together represent the full range of skills necessary to execute the activities of the tour. The monastery also selects a senior lama to lead the tour; this lama assumes responsibility for guiding the continued spiritual development of the monks while they are away from the monastery. In addition, the head lama gives lectures and workshops on a variety of topics relating to Tibetan philosophy, psychology, meditation and culture. To compose a group with the requisite skills, the monastery selects at least two monks from a small group of chantmasters. The chantmasters are experts in the form of multiphonic chanting for which Drepung Loseling is renowned. A special emphasis is placed on selecting monks who are particularly skilled in ritual chants, and several masters of the art of the Mandala Sand Painting. Other monks are chosen for their talent in playing the traditional Tibetan musical instruments, such as the 10-foot-long dung-chen horns and the gyaling trumpets. Most of the monks on the tour are multi-talented and fill more than one role.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, for accessibility inquiries or general questions, call (276) 376-4520 or email contact@proartva.org. For weather related updates, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for real-time information.

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Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. Pro-Art is additionally supported in part by the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Smith Vicars Family Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.