Sand Mandala of Compassion
Three Tibetan monks based at the Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling monastery in New Zealand are here to bring an expression of compassion in an ancient and traditional form of Sand Mandala art at the V&A Waterfront and attend a number of events in Cape Town throughout the month of February.
Two of the monks; Ven. Geshe Jamyang Sherab and Ven. Karma Gyasey have been invited to construct an exquisitely detailed and highly elaborate colourful Chenrezig Sand Mandala from fine grains of coloured sand as an offering of love and compassion to the nation. Members of the public are invited to view this ancient art-form as it takes shape during the two weeks from 11 to 23 February 2014 inside the Clock Tower Shopping Centre at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town.
"The creation of the Sand Mandala begins with an official traditional Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, 11 Feb at 18:00, which is open to the public.
It is believed that wherever mandalas are created, a healing of the surrounding environment and all living beings that reside there takes place. The monks consider our present age to be one of great need in this respect, and therefore are creating these mandalas where requested throughout the world. "The monks are pleased to be coming to Cape Town, their first visit to Africa and to be able to offer this mandala of compassion to the people," says Kaari Schlebach, event manager. "They are touched by the outpouring of support from everyone involved enabling the event to be offered free of any charge."
The mandala construction process will be open to the public for free daily viewings from 12 to 22 February 2014 between 09:00 to 17:00. The public are invited to come and watch the monks as they work and participate in any of the events.
The closing ceremony on Sunday, 23 February 2014 from 15:00 to 17:00 is where the mandala is ceremonially dissolved and the blessed sand is gifted to the ocean, will also be open to the public. "On completion the mandala sands are swept up and offered into the surrounding ocean where the waters carry healing energies based on love and compassion throughout the world," says Schlebach.
Date: 11 February 2014Time: 18:00 - 19:30
Venue: Clock Tower Shopping Centre at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, Cape Town
Cost: Open to Public
Date: 12 February 2014 to 21 February 2014
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Venue: Clock Tower Shopping Centre at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, Cape Town
Cost: Daily Free Viewing
Date: 23 February 2014
Time: 15:00 - 17:00
Venue: Clock Tower Shopping Centre at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, Cape Town
Cost: Open to Puiblic