What is a sand mandala?

A sand mandala is a sacred diagram made from colored grains of sand, laid grain by grain over several days. Skilled monks follow precise iconography passed down within the monastery.

The public is welcome to observe creation during viewing hours. The residency traditionally ends with a dissolution ceremony: the mandala is swept away as a teaching on impermanence and as an offering for peace.

Photography policies vary by stop; please read the stop page before you visit.