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THE Volume 31, Issue 8 October 13, 2005 nt it matters to you, it matters to The Pendulum/ V- www.elon.edu/pendulurr Tibetan monks meditate with mandala Three of the Tibetan monks visiting Elon work on a mandala in Belk Library as part ol their spiritual journey while they visit. Krista Naposki Photographe: ■Mgry Austin Slate Reporter A strange, ethereal sound echoed in Belk Library early Monday morning. Four Tibetan fiuddhist monks had begun a chanting ritual, of their opening ceremony for the creation a symbolic sand mandala. The ceremony foarked the beginning of the Shiwa Tour, a '''eek-long visit by the monks. Today at 9:50 a.m. they will begin the ^Reconstruction process, which results in a clos- ceremony that ends at Lake Maiy Nell. The deconstruction of the mandala represents Buddhist belief in the transience of life and spirit of impermanence. No sand will be given to visitors becau^ the meaning of the mandala can be found in the process rather than the physical remnants. Instead, the monks wiU fling the sand mto the lake, symbolizing its return to nature. A mandala is a traditional Tibetan sand painting of geometric shapes made fiom cmshed maible. Each grain is blessed mdivid- uallv creating a “vast store of spmtual eneip', Tmia Cen^- for Rebgious and Spiritual Life. . The art of mandala painting can be traced back to the sixth century B.C., when it ongi- nated in India. In the centurie^mce then, the ttadition has been passed on from generation to generation. The creation process is a form of meditation and requires extreme concentration as the monks pour the colored grains through a fim- nel to create a fine stream of sand. The second floor lounge was filled with stu dents and professors, who watched silently on Monday as the three monks, dressed in tradi tional red and yellow garb, vocalized prayers in their native language. The chanting switched fiom unison to har mony to solo voice as the monks followed an intricate prayer pattern designed to bless their visit at Elon. “The chanting seemed really simple, but when they explained it, there were a lot more layers,” freshman Jenna Hill said. Many students present at the opening cere mony expressed an interest in returning to se* the progress of the mandala. “I’m going to come back during the weel and during deconstruction,” said sophomon Nikki Allem. “I want to look at it fiom the ceil ing,” she said, pointing at the view from th>^ thiid floor. “I hear that’s the best way to see it’ The monks will be working on the mandal. from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. or the second floor lounge of Belk. Students cat talk to the monks, who speak limited English or simply watch their progress. Contact Mary Austin Slate at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. features Need a better diet? Find out which cafeteria foods are the healthiest See p. 14 ENTERTAINMENT Looking for a hot theater production? Check out the ‘Hot L Baltimore’ review. See p. 18 SPORTS Feeling sporty and academic? Find out about the Draddy trophy nominee. See p. 21
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 13, 2005, edition 1
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