NEWS

Tibetan monks create world peace sand mandala to bless Evansville

After five days of meticulous work creating a World Peace sand mandala, Tibetan monk Yeshi Rabgyal, left, disperses the colorful sand that was ceremoniously deconstructed into the Ohio River at Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville, Thursday afternoon. The six monks visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, poured the sand into the river to spread prayers for peace and long life to Evansville residents and the world.
After five days of meticulous work creating a World Peace sand mandala, Tibetan monk Yeshi Rabgyal, left, disperses the colorful sand that was ceremoniously deconstructed into the Ohio River at Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville, Thursday afternoon. The six monks visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, poured the sand into the river to spread prayers for peace and long life to Evansville residents and the world.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS,
Ayla Martin, 6, center, and Yeshi Rabgyal, right, a monk visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, compare the size of each other's hands as Kalsang Jinpa, left, works on a World Peace Sand Mandala inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Monday evening, Aug. 20, 2018. Martin's grandmother Cecile Martin, back left, has coordinated the monks past three trips to Evansville and introduced Rabgyal to Martin when she was only 6-months-old.
Ayla Martin, 6, center, and Yeshi Rabgyal, right, a monk visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, compare the size of each other's hands as Kalsang Jinpa, left, works on a World Peace Sand Mandala inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Monday evening, Aug. 20, 2018. Martin's grandmother Cecile Martin, back left, has coordinated the monks past three trips to Evansville and introduced Rabgyal to Martin when she was only 6-months-old.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS
The World Peace sand mandala took five days for the six monks visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, to complete inside the John Wesley Gallery located in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville. On Thursday afternoon, the monks held a closing ceremony to destroy their creation before traveling to Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville to dump the mixed sand into the Ohio River.
The World Peace sand mandala took five days for the six monks visiting from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, to complete inside the John Wesley Gallery located in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville. On Thursday afternoon, the monks held a closing ceremony to destroy their creation before traveling to Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville to dump the mixed sand into the Ohio River.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS,
Yeshi Rabgyal, one of six monks visiting from the Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, methodically works on the middle ring of the World Peace Sand Mandala inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of the Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Monday evening, Aug. 20, 2018. The intricate mandala takes about five days to make and once finished is destroyed and poured into a body of water to symbolize purification and healing.
Yeshi Rabgyal, one of six monks visiting from the Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, methodically works on the middle ring of the World Peace Sand Mandala inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of the Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Monday evening, Aug. 20, 2018. The intricate mandala takes about five days to make and once finished is destroyed and poured into a body of water to symbolize purification and healing.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS
The golden fish are one of eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism that are showcased on the outer circle of the World Peace sand mandala. The pair symbolizes a state of fearlessness in all living beings and ability to migrate from place to place freely and spontaneously.
The golden fish are one of eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism that are showcased on the outer circle of the World Peace sand mandala. The pair symbolizes a state of fearlessness in all living beings and ability to migrate from place to place freely and spontaneously.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS,
The monks from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, gently destroy the World Peace sand mandala that they spent five days creating inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Thursday afternoon. Following the deconstruction process, the monks traveled to Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville to pour the sand into the Ohio River.
The monks from Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, gently destroy the World Peace sand mandala that they spent five days creating inside the John Wesley Gallery in the basement of Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville, Thursday afternoon. Following the deconstruction process, the monks traveled to Dress Plaza in Downtown Evansville to pour the sand into the Ohio River.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS,
An elephant, monkey, rabbit and bird are seen in the center circle of the World Peace sand mandala that was created by the visiting monks of Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India. The animals represent a story called the "The Four Perfect Friends," which is about achieving harmony through diversity.
An elephant, monkey, rabbit and bird are seen in the center circle of the World Peace sand mandala that was created by the visiting monks of Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India. The animals represent a story called the "The Four Perfect Friends," which is about achieving harmony through diversity.
SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS,