Live Stream of Monks Building Mandala
August 1st, 2011Check in online to watch the Drepung Gomang Monks construct a mandala!
During their tour of Aryaloka, from August 1st to 6th, 2011, the Drepung Gomang monks will be dedicating a space at our center for mandala construction, and throughout the week you’ll be able to watch online – live, via webcam on the screen below – as their mandala slowly takes form with the careful addition of each colorful grain of sand. This is an amazing process to witness, so don’t miss it!
Viewing times to watch the monks in person at Aryaloka Buddhist Center are open to the public by donation, and directions to Aryaloka can be found by clicking here.
To learn more about the Drepung Gomang monks and their monastery, or to make a donation to support them in their work, please visit their website: http://www.gomang.org/2010_tour.html
Viewing Tip: Click on the small play button at the bottom of the video player to stay on this website – clicking the large button in the middle will send you to Ustream.com
Very peaceful, I will enjoy seeing the process. sandra
I’m wondering why the face masks? I seem to remember from making torma last year that one doesn’t breathe onto the dough as you knead it, it needs to be kept pure. So does the same principle apply here and if so why is one monk not wearing a mask?
Great to see though, excellent idea to provided us with a live video stream.
Sadhu!
I think maybe it’s so the monk working closest to the mandala doesn’t accidentally blow on it and move the sand? I could be wrong, though.
I think the masks are so they don’t breathe in the sand. It is very fine and probably not good for their lungs.
But I will ask when I see them tomorrow.
As I understand it from the monks, the masks not only protect the sand from being blown around, they also serve to keep the mandala from being “polluted.” The sand mandala is considered to be the home of the Buddha and the breath from unenlightened beings can “pollute” it and result in bad karma for the monks. From time to time, a monk does forget to wear his mask.
Good morning: I’m teaching in Reston VA and am so excited to be able to jump onto the web site to watch the progress on the Mandala. I actually have shared the image on the projection screen in my “Emotional Intelligence” class I’m teaching here. The attendees were amazed. Thank you for this great use of technology.
I have been watching all week. I am sure it is even more lovely up close, I must take a ride up!