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A young monk wearing gold and red robes continues drawing the brush through the mandala, destoying the image and blending the colors of the mandala, now almost completely destroyed.

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Tibetan Healing Mandala
Sharing Stories
Stories from our exhibition journals

Sharing Stories

Stories from our exhibition journals

As a "grasshopper" I am most pleased to experience this wonderful artistic experience. Mindfulness as applied to art is most becoming. This has been another step in my buddhist path - Metta (?) Dee Lewis 1/11/02

Student of Faifax Va. @ 9:30, when my Amrican history class and school got wrod of attackes on Pentagon and NYC the only feeling there was, was that of shock. Many of my classmates have parents that work at the Pentagon and one of my classmates *had* a parent that worked at the Pentagon. Its the days passed shock turned to outrage, grief, horror, and a thirst for revenge. But now, 4 months and 1 day have passed and the feelings have turned to pride. I am proud to be an American and proud to love the love. The passengers on the plane that crashed in Somerset fought the first war of the new millenium. Those passenger's said "let's roll!" But now, 4 months and 1 day later it is America's turn and the world's turn to exclaim "let's roll" w/ love and forgiveness towards justice. W/ pride in our hearts and friends among us, let this Mandala heal those in Wash D.C. to those around the world until one day no bombs will fall and noone will kill anyone in the name of anything. God Bless America & God Bless the World. Chris Cave. 1/12/02 Fairfax, VA

As the monks chanted, I could visualize negativity being swept away from teh Earth, & positivity coming in its place. it is truly a pwoerful thing. Thank you so much for giving us this gift.

After witnessing the oopening ceremony, I feel much lighter, more at peace, more in touch with our shared humanity. Blessed be!!

1/11/02 I am here in town briefly for a few days/I am an African American Buddhist and I am pleased to have happened on the healing mandela ceremony opening today. Most of all that it serves to helping in the healing of our consciousness after 9/11 is particularly heartening ^o^ AL

12 Jan 01 This gallery space is already heavy with the sacred, though the mandala has scarcely begun its formation. Pace e bene a tutti. DPR Georgetown University

1/11/02 Thank you for sharing & heping us to understand & become more aware of our world.

Jan. 12, 2002. thank you for your payers at this time of our nation's pain. A gift of the sand mandala is a beautiful gesture. Angela Nguyen

The mandala is a beautiful creation. I believe it will help our nation at this time. Ethan Jehioor

The energy in this room is already very strong with peace, strength, gentleness and love. Thank you for bringing this gift to us. Siennah

This is one of the most peaceful moments I've had in months. I just may have to come here everyday thru the 27th. Namaste Nicole

Sublime. Thank you for the opportunity to witness an extraordinary practice and ceremony. May the Dharma flourish, may all sentient beings find perfect peace and happiness. OM AH HUM After Sept 11 and so many other tragic events in our history, it is calming to see these monks at work reminding all of us how important our connection with Spirit love, & life truly is. KOD

I don't know what to say; all I can do is shed tears, and the mandala isn't even finished. But I know that it must have some meaning for all of us. I hope we can all learn from this and try to be a little more understanding and compassionate toward each other, and find some way to live together despite life's impermanence. We can start by looking at ourselves. CMC 10 Jan '02

9-11-01, I was sitting on an A Train, in teh Chambers St. Sttation, two blocks from where the first plane hit. It was 8:50 AM. At 9:10 AM I got out at my stop in Brooklyn & learned what had happened. At 11 AM I stood w/ hundreds at the promenade on Montegue St. & stared in numb disbelief - there was no sign of Manhattan. Thick, dark smoke filled the sky & ash was drifting down on our heads. In four months I've come to different levels of understanding, grief & horror. I've wept & screamed. I've written & wondered. Simply standing here today brings me to another level. One day I'll hae a word for it. For now I thank you. T Remmington 1-12-02

If you ever witness a pond without a ripple, this was very much a like. Calm, at ease and very peaceful. It was such an honor to share a moment with ancient gods/goddess while under the influence of such harmony of voices. let me also say, because of our humanity they were so much like us, pure joyous beings with such compassion to share their spirits of kindness to all who came. forever will their recorded ceremony be in my head. I forever will play the tape over and over in my mind. I thank and Bless you all for making this such an awesome journey for us all. Michael DeMeglio Rockville MD 2002

1/17 I have a friend undergoing surgery for cancer tomorrow. She was and has been very distraught over the past few weeks. And I've no words to console her. Two events changed this - last week there was a beautiful double rainbow visible from downtown Washington + the other is the ongoing creation of your beautiful + moving mandala - she has been + remains very calm, now in the face of her ordeal - please know the Peace + Healing you are making here have already spread out into the world - Miche--

Jan. 18, 2002 A year and a half ago, when I was recovering from major surgery to remove a malignant ovarian tumor, one of my oldest and dearest friends sent me a beautiful gift - a silver and crystal pendant that she had made. I was very moved by the beautiful gift, but at first did not realize that it held a treasure of great significance in a small compartment in it's top section. When I opened the lid, thinking that it was empty, some small colored bits fell out (forunately, not all the contents). I carefully preserved as much as I could, and wear the pendant today as I watch the incredible work that is in progress here. When I was feeling well enough to speak with my friend, who lives in California, I asked her what was inside the pendant and she told me of the creation of a mandala that she had witnessed in California, and explained that the small, colored bits inside my pendant were pieces of sand from that mandala, given to her after it was swept up at the end of the process. She told me of the chanting and prayers of the monks over that mandala, and said that, in sending part of the mandala to me, she hope to help in my healing process. I was overwhelmed by the story she told, the images it conjured in my mind, and the love of not only my friend in giving this gift to me but also of the monks who were compete strangers to me. When I found out about this mandala and the idea that inspired it - the wish to give to our nation and people a gift of peace and healing, I was elated. This is such a beautiful event on so many levels - the artistry and craft, creative energy and mental focus, love, selflessness and devotion to creating a better world for all of us to live in are just a few of it's awe-inspiring aspects. I feel incredibly humbled by this gesture and work, and grateful for all of the good that it represents. Thank you for ths example. I hope that we as a country and each of us in our individual lives can learn something valuable from this that will, in turn, bring peace, joy and healing to others as you are doing here. I cannot think of any greater gift. Beth Goodman Washington, DC

I came for a cultural experience only. It was quite healing to be in this space, both witness and participate. Early this month my husband + I, for the second time this year, lost an opportunity to recieve a child into our home through adoption. This second time was more felt emotionally -draining, without expecting this lovely gesture from the monks today, a part of healing continues. I am most grateful.

A pen sketch of a monk, leaning over a table, working on the mandala. Below is handwritten, "thank you for your compassion! 2002"

As my father lay dying a few days ago, he asked for prayers - old European prayers, he said. None of use were sure what he meant. Listening to the chants today I understood with was the oldness that he sought - ancient & deep.

Hello, You have brought a sense of peace and hope to my weary soul. You have given me closure and understanding that love and peace do exist, and that we can *all* live as one! Many blessings to you. you have touched more than my heart, you have touched my soul. I hope my 3 1/2 monh old son will feel love, hope and understanding as I do right now. THANK YOU. Elvia Southerland-Whorley 1/21/01 : )

It's All About Trust There is a power and direction in life. There is a magnitude of unfathomability in life. Love is the only genuine force in life. All others are disengenuous rooted in the pain and suffering of fragile human beings Like me. Alune Duncan Hyattsville, MD

January 19, 2002 (words crossed out) Watching the patience and care that the monks put into the mandala, reminds me of the patience needed to develop compassion for all beings Ben Miner

I could feel the energy given off by the mandala - It's interesting that on the day after Sept 11 attacks - I decided to have my algebra/geometry students create mandalas for their own inner peace. They cover our classroom walls. It was an intuitive thing - I didn't know why I created that experience until later. I started learning about the power of the mandalas + now I undrsatnd that the monks who caught my attention + I caught his during the chanting had the same face as the boy monk who visited me in a meditation

1/21/02 One of the most amazing, cleansing experiences I have ever had. I felt the pain and anguish of my world and the world around me lessen and dissapate. I appreciate the generation of peace sent out to so many in pain. Thank you. Amy Uccello

breathe in suffering breathe out compassion breathe in love breathe out love

The scraping sound The bright colored sand The itnricately designed Mandala The inner peace reflected in the monks working together.... I feel better alredy Thank you! oscar

A doodled mandala with "thank you, humbly" written in the center.

Thank you for sharing your awakened life with all of us in this way. The truth of impermanence, balanced with the joy of living today, is a sharing that I hope all people can appreciate, then awaken, in their lives. J--- P----

What a wonderful thing! I will never forget the fear & pain in this city on that day. But now, I will never forget these monks, their works & this wonderful mandala either. The evil of that day is truly being counter-acted Gary Rossi D.C.

May Peace Be Here Now That we have compassion and understanding That I can Listen to my Heart Tha I can Listen to Your Heart That You Can Heal Your Heart That You Can Heal My Heart Together may we feel their pain and in turn may they understand ours. Thank you for coming in peace.

Sand Mandala We are the eyes Watching your colors We are lungs that breath the dust of gems We are as various as your colors -- As bright as gem-dust, each one. And though towrs fall around us We never become a monolithic 'America' Still the bright dust of three thousand gems. -Jessica H-----

This has been a beautiful gift and a life lesson to me. Thanks Gracias, Angeles Mendoza from Mexico city.

It is the most beautiful picture I have ever seen! Shane Krom! Age 10

Thank you for your extreme effort to encourage peace in this world. I brought a group of my high school students to see yet another way we can spread the idea of peace as a way to enlightenment. I teach a Peace Studies class. This has helped immensely to see the kind of devoion that most western students rarely get to even try to take in! Thank you all- In peace - Brooke Randolph

Today was my third time I have come to watch the monks work on their beautiful mandala. I know that it is supposed to emit healing powers - I no longer doubt that. Everytime I leace, I do so in a better state of mind. Thank you, thank you thank you to the monks - you have done more than you will ever know. Yor labor of love is truly amazing. -C. Lamb : )

The beauty & power of this mandala to stir our hearts is wonderous. May your acts & hopes for healing take root in our nation & guide us toward our better selves. Edward Elder

I first came to see the early stages of the mandala and returned today to participate in meditation and view the progress. I must say the experience equates itself with symbolism. Each grain of color is ann individual joining with others. Each color is an emotion or state of being. Each curve and angle of the overall design cooperate with each other as each grain seeks its purpose in the whole work. The entirety of the mandala gives us pause to think of the earth, its people and our pruposs as peaceful beings hoping for world healing. Corrine Terebas Textile Artist Rockville, Maryland

Gives me strength to continue & to find the positive - sister Sue was in WTC & her spirit no soars in the Himalayas - a charter (?) is being built in her --- in a mountain pass where she saw a snow leopard 4 years ago. She was a world-wide traveler who loved Nepal & the whole Buddhist religion (way of life) Keep..... keep giving us hope & strength --

Thank you for a beautiful and peaceful experience... Just watching you made my sadness go away... I am grateful to hav been here to experience this joy. Kara R. Mullins

I think this is sending the right message to the world and I thank you for that. Nica Staple Capitol Hill Day School 8th grade

I am so touched that you all spend this back-breaking work to help us here, when there are so many Things needing your time, attention and devotion. The mandala is spectacular and one of the most wondrous, beautiful things I have ever seen. It moved me to tears, especially as I live only about 1/2 mile from Pentagon and hear the airplane go overhead moments before it exploded into Pentagon. Your loving act will always resonate for us here. Thank you. Angela Foehl Arlington, VA

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