Like sand through an hourglass

Tibetan monk returns to Chico to create intricate, impermanent artwork

This article was published on 11.13.14

For two weeks, Losang Samten, a renowned Tibetan monk who served for several years under the Dalai Lama, was back in Chico to create a sand mandala. An ancient art form, the mandala is an intricate, beautiful, one-of-a-kind creation tied to a theme—this particular mandala is meant for healing. On Nov. 8, the final day of viewing in the Bell Memorial Union on the Chico State campus, Losang held a dissolution ceremony, during which he destroyed the mandala. Such is the impermanence of life. Samten performed similar ceremonies at Chico State and Butte College in 2008 and 2011.

For two weeks, Losang Samten, a renowned Tibetan monk who served for several years under the Dalai Lama, was back in Chico to create a sand mandala. An ancient art form, the mandala is an intricate, beautiful, one-of-a-kind creation tied to a theme—this particular mandala is meant for healing. On Nov. 8, the final day of viewing in the Bell Memorial Union on the Chico State campus, Losang held a dissolution ceremony, during which he destroyed the mandala. Such is the impermanence of life. Samten performed similar ceremonies at Chico State and Butte College in 2008 and 2011.

PHOTO by Brittany Waterstradt

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