A World Contained in Grains of Sand













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By Niesha Lofing - nlofing@sacbee.com


Visiting Tibetan monks begin work Thursday on a sand mandala at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento. The church is hosting four days of events centered on the creation of a traditional Tibetan Buddhist mural composed of millions of grains of dyed sand. Randall Benton / rbenton@sacbee.com
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The sights and sounds within Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on Thursday morning were anything but typical.

While evergreen wreaths adorned the pulpit and garlands decorated pillars, it wasn't the sound of hymns or Christmas carols that filled the Episcopal church.

Instead, the melodic voices of two Tibetan monks chanting and praying rang through the cathedral. The smell of sweet incense filled the air.

And in an alcove near an empty manger awaiting its Nativity figurines stood a table with a blueprintlike outline of what would become a Medicine Buddha sand mandala decorating its surface.

The juxtaposition of Eastern and Western religion was intentional, an effort to exemplify the need for peace and understanding among groups.

"When there's so much division happening in the world, especially with religion, it's important to practice hospitality," said Brian Baker, dean of Trinity Cathedral.

The church, with the Dalai Lama Foundation's Sacramento chapter and other groups, is hosting four days of events centered on the creation of a sand mandala, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist artwork composed of millions of grains of dyed sand.

The mandala under way at Trinity represents the residence of the healing Medicine Buddha. After the monks complete the mandala – expected to take about 50 hours – it will be dismantled Sunday during a 1 p.m. ceremony. The mixed sand will be given out to the audience and released into the Sacramento River.

The event is the first of many that will precede the Dalai Lama's visit to Sacramento, scheduled for 2009.

Baker said he hopes his parishioners will be inspired by the Buddhist traditions to reflect on their spirituality and open their hearts and minds to different points of view.

"There's nothing wrong with making space in your life for other perspectives," he said.
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