19 S U M M E R 2 0 1 7
PERSPEC T I V ES
IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT OUR
SCHOOL RECEIVES A VISIT FROM A
MONK, and it's certainly not every day that
we get to witness the construction of a sand
mandala. Between March 14 and March 17
we were fortunate to experience both.
Lama Tenzin Yignyen, a Buddhist monk
from Tibet, and professor at Hobart and
William Smith Colleges, visited Palmer
Trinity School with a simple message:
treat others with compassion. His sand
mandala acted as an artistic representation of
compassion and unity, featuring designs of
each of the elements, flowers, and a variety
of vibrant colors. During his construction of
the mandala, Lama Tenzin spoke to students,
faculty, and staff about the importance of
having a good heart and a good head on your
shoulders. Additionally, each morning he
led daily lessons in meditation for students,
faculty and staff, and some parents. He
answered questions about life, philosophy,
and his personal history, enlightening many
in our community.
It took four days for the sand mandala to be
completed. Once it was finished, students
and faculty gathered around as Lama Tenzin
prayed and began to dismantle his mandala.
Students helped Lama Tenzin brush the
sand into a container for transport to a river
across the street from campus. In a stunning
ceremony witnessed by students and faculty,
Lama Tenzin released the sand from the
mandala into the water. You might ask, why
dismantle a work of art that beautiful? e
act of releasing the sand was symbolic. It
represents our own impermanence in this
world, and that all beautiful things must one
day come to an end.
S A N D M A N D A L A
