A Closer Look

As you may have read on yesterday's post, I visited Railroad Park on Saturday to photograph the monks who were in town for the Dalai Lama's visit to Birmingham.  Since Wednesday they had been about the work of creating a mandala, from crushed marble in an enclosed tent there at the pavilion. The process appears to be tedious and painstaking but one monk explained that the pattern is part of their prayers so it's far more than creating a piece of temporary art.  Yes, it is temporary. Today at 5:00 , there will be a ceremony where the sand will be swept up, shared with those in attendance and the rest released into a body of water.

Welcome

This weekend, the city of Birmingham welcomes the 14th Dalai Lama.  Yesterday, I was fortunate to visit and photograph the monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Mundgod, India.  The are creating an amazing mandala of colored crushed marble at Railroad Park. On Monday afternoon, they will give some
of the sands to visitors and then as is their tradition, they will release the rest of this beautiful creation into a water source. 

Being able to meet and interact with them was such a wonderful experience for me. They were so kind to explain the process. Such gentle souls.  I look forward to hearing from those who get to hear the Dalai Lama today.  A very very special time for our city.

Tomorrow, a closer look.