Hobart and William Smith Colleges

1 May 2007 Mandala dismantling ceremony planned

In keeping with Buddhist tradition, the sand mandala now on display in the atrium of the Warren Hunting Smith Library will soon be destroyed and offered to the waters of Seneca Lake.

The ceremony will be led by Tenzin Yignyen, an instructor of Asian languages and cultures, who is also a high-ranking monk in the Dalai Lamas personal monastery. The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, also in the atrium of the library. All are welcome.

Tenzin will sweep up his intricate and colorful sand creation, scoop the grains into a pot and pour his creation into Seneca Lake. All in attendance are invited to walk across the Hobart Quad and then down the hill to the lake. The action is done in recognition of lifes impermanence and the Tibetan belief that man-made creations are insignificant.

Tenzin has been a member of the HWS faculty since 1998. In addition to creating the mandala, he is an instructor in mediation, Tibetan Buddhism and art, as well as Asian studies.