University Times

While many people were wringing their hands over potential Y2K computer crashes, Pitt's Bradford campus hosted six Tibetan lamas from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, in a ceremonial celebration of positive energy and healing marking the year 2000. These were the same Tibetan lamas featured in the movie "Seven Years in Tibet" where they are shown constructing a sand mandala, which is a three-dimensional sand painting with intricate symbol designs that hold special meaning in the Tibetan culture.

The monks, followers of the Dalai Lama, spent Dec. 29-31 creating the colorful sand mandala in the Hanley Library at the Bradford campus as part of the third annual First Night Bradford.

Paula Johnson, First Night Bradford chairperson, said, "In the Tibetan culture, the sand mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. What better time than the last days before the new millennium to welcome them here to share their beliefs and culture with our community."

The three-day event drew more than 2,500 people. "I think it is appropriate that as a 'community of learners,' our institution was part of welcoming the new millennium for Bradford," said Richard McDowell, president of Pitt-Bradford. "The rich spiritual and intellectual traditions of Drepung Loseling Monastery and the Dalai Lama will enhance our community's understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity and education."

On previous tours, the lamas of Drepung Loseling have constructed mandala sand paintings in more than 30 North American cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

During the opening ceremony at Bradford, the lamas consecrated the site and called forth the forces of goodness with chanting, music and mantra recitation. Construction of the mandala began by drawing an outline of it on a 5-foot diameter wooden platform followed by pouring sand onto the surface through traditional metal funnels called chak-pur. Each monk held a chak-pur in one hand, while running a metal rod on its grated surface, creating vibrations that cause the sands to flow like liquid.

Keeping with Tibetan tradition, the sand mandala was destroyed shortly after its completion as an indication of the impermanence of life. The sands were swept up and placed in an urn. Half the sand was distributed to the audience of 700 at the closing ceremony, while the remainder was deposited in nearby Tuna Creek. According to Tibetan tradition, the waters eventually carry a healing blessing to the ocean, and from there it spreads throughout the world for planetary healing.

"It couldn't have been a more perfect ceremony," said Bradford campus spokesperson Mark Van Tilburg. "We expected, maybe, a couple hundred people, but the regional support was outstanding. With the snow falling outside the glass-enclosed room at the Hanley Library, it was beautiful, almost surreal."

The Drepung Loseling Monastery was established near Lhasa, Tibet, in 1416. After the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 and the forced closure and destruction of its 6,500 monasteries, some 250 monks from Loseling escaped the invasion and rebuilt their monastery in southern India.