Beth L. Jokinen
Published Sept. 18, 2008
LIMA – Tapping a sand-filled metal cone, the Tibetan monks created what some would consider a masterpiece worthy of keeping forever.
But that’s not their way. In most cases, even those creations taking weeks to make, are swept away; a reminder of Buddha’s last words that nothing is permanent.
“We forget that every single moment that we live, even in a snap of a finger things can change,” Jangchub Chophel said Wednesday. “We are very precious to have this moment in time and this life and to make good use of it.”
Jangchub Chophel and other Tibetan monks and lamas from Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India spent time at Bluffton University on Wednesday, introducing people to sand mandalas, or monastic sand painting.
Seen as a pathway to inner peace and compassion, mandalas are used for healing purposes. Some can be as large as nine feet in diameter and take up to 26 days to complete. Working on one can be a very powerful and spiritual experience, Jangchub Chophel said.
“It can actually remove negativities, heal the area and environment and bring the blessings of Buddha to the area,” he said. “We sweep it up and usually put the sand in a body of water so that blessings and purifications continue to heal.”
The monks’ tour in the United States is twofold. One is to raise money to furnish a hospital at the monastery. The last tour helped pay for the hospital, which cares for and offers free medicine to 6,000 monks, 300 nuns, 6,000 Tibetan laypeople and whoever else needs it.
“Free medicine and checkups to anyone. We get no international aid. We have to take care of ourselves,” said Lobsang Wangchuk, whose mother lives in Findlay.
The second purpose, Tenzin Lobsang said, is to teach people “how to control their minds from negativities.” The negativities might be desire, ignorance, anger and doubt.
“Here in United States, everything is not perfect,” he said. “Many people have mind problems. We are teaching them what causes suffering and what causes happiness.”
The monks say the most important of their teachings is kindness, compassion and tolerance. Jangchub Chophel, who became a monk three years ago, reminds that “we are all in this together,” saying that it benefits him when others are happy.
The monastery houses Tibetan refugees and works to rebuild Tibet through education and acts of nonviolent resistance. New monks arrive often in exile from Communist Chinese-controlled Tibet. Despite the Chinese occupation, Tenzin Lobsang said Tibetans wish no harm on China.
“From our side, we never harm other human beings,” he said. “The Chinese are always one of the living beings. We are never taught to harm the Chinese people. … The Dalai Lama wants to have a dialogue for the truth.”
