Tibetan Monks Create Sand Art at the Hopkins Arts Center

Seven Tibetan monks from the Tashi Kyil monastery in Dehra Dun, India, are at the Hopkins Center for the Arts this week to teach Minnesotans about their art and culture.

Founded in 1709, Tashi Kyil was one of the six great monasteries of Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism—the branch associated with the Dalai Lama. Since the communist occupation of Tibet and the destruction of the original temple, the monks have worked to rebuild their monastery in Dehra Dun.

At the Hopkins Center for the Arts, the monks created a Peace Sand Mandala—a traditional work of art made from colored sand. The mandala refers to the story of The Four Harmonious Brothers. A grouse, hare, monkey and elephant sit on each other in order of their age as a symbol of love, compassion and respect said monk Tenpa Phuutsok.

There will also be a cultural program from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday and Saturday. The hand-on program will all children ages 3 to 12 to learn about Tibet through butter sculptures, sand paintings, prayer flags, coloring books and word puzzles.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, there will be a program that will offer visitors a chance to “Travel to Tibet with the Monks of Tashi Kyil Monastery.” A closing ceremony will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The monks will talk about a monastery, demonstrate a traditional yak dance and share ancient chants that Tibetan monks use daily.