|
In
conjunction with the exhibit The
Female Buddha: Women of Enlightenment in Tibetan Mysticism,
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art is pleased to present—
|
|
A
Mandala Sand Painting of the
Female Buddha
White Tara for the Healing of America
|
An
Offering to America by the Tibetan Monks of Drepung Loseling
Monastery November 9 through December 21, 2002, Museum South
Gallery
The Finished Mandala Now on View at
OUMA
The tragedy of September 11th
deeply shocked America and all civilized people. It continues
to bring a profound sense of unrest and insecurity throughout
the world.
Immediately after the incident
His Holiness the Dalai Lama publicly condemned the attack,
and sent a letter of condolence to both President Bush and
the American people. He also recommended that the Tibetan
monks of Drepung Loseling, who are in America as part of the
Mystical Arts of Tibet
tours, create sand mandalas throughout the country and offer
their prayers and meditations for healing and protection.
|
HEALING
MANDALAS FOR NEW YORK CITY AND WASHINGTON, DC
|
The first two mandala sand paintings created as part of this
offering were made in New York and Washington, DC, in memory
of the victims who had died from the attacks in these cities,
and in honor of their families, the rescue workers, and the
many who endured with strength and courage. Both of these events
were hosted by the Smithsonian Institution: in New York at the
Smithsonian's National
Museum of the American Indian; and in DC at the Smithsonian's
Sackler
Gallery. Both events received an overwhelming response from
the respective communities. Vidya Dehejia, the then director
of the Sackler Gallery, later wrote to thank the monks, stating,
"Your two week mandala construction broke all past attendance
records for our museum. We estimate that some 45,000 visitors
came to watch the monks, and to participate in the morning and
afternoon ceremonies. This is two to three times our normal
attendance level…. In particular, the construction of the
healing mandala in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy
brought a sense of relief and emotional healing to many of our
visitors. This is evidenced by hundreds of moving comments made
in our visitors' books."
Many of these testimonies
are viewable on the Smithsonian Sackler
Gallery website. The DC event was covered by CNN, National
Geographic and PBS, as well as a number of local television
channels.
Since then, the Loseling monks
have made more than a dozen mandala sand paintings across
the country for the healing and protection of America. All
have been similarly well received.
|
THE
CREATION OF A HEALING MANDALA AT OUMA
November 9 - December 21, 2002
|
The monks have brought a similar event to Oglethorpe University
Museum of Art between November 9th and December 21st, in conjunction
with the exhibit The Female
Buddha: Women of Enlightenment in Tibetan Mysticism. Now
completed, the mandala sand painting is that of Sita (White)
Tara, the female buddha traditionally associated with healing
and protection. Tara is often called "Mother of All the
Buddhas," for she symbolizes the enlightenment energy from
which all goodness in the world is born, and from which all
saints and buddhas emerge. Sita Tara symbolizes this creative
energy as directed toward and focused upon healing and protection.
Click
Here for Details on Mandala-Related Events at OUMA
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
is located at 4484 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30319. The Museum is on the third floor of the Philip Weltner
Library Building, near the rear of the Oglethorpe University
campus. Enter the main library entrance, and take the elevator
to the third floor. Free parking is available in the rear
of the building.
Detailed
directions and map
To
receive announcements about upcoming lectures and programs,
we invite you to sign up to receive our Free
Newsletter.
For more information call (404)
364-8555, or use our
response form to email us your comments or questions.
|
