CAMDEN — Sacred Arts Tour returns with the creation of a Sacred Sand Mandala offered for peace, compassion and wisdom in our world.

Tibetan Buddhist Monks, from Drepung Gomang Monastery in India, will construct a Chenrezig (Bodhisattva of Compassion) Sand Mandala beginning with an opening ceremony at 9:30am on Tuesday, October 29, continuing daily from 9:30am – 4:30pm, and ending at noon on Sunday, November 3, at Symmetree Meditation Studio, 20 Bay View Street, Camden.

The public is welcome during any of the hours when the Monks are working, for this free and uplifting event. All donations will benefit the 2,000 monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery.

“The return of the Sacred Arts Tour is truly a gift to the midcoast community. The monks love Maine as much as we love them! Experiencing the construction, and dissolution, of the sand mandala helps us to connect with our natural capacity to cultivate compassion, regardless of religious tradition,” says Cynthia Trone, local coordinator for the Sacred Arts Tour and owner of Symmetree, in a news release. “The monks’ work and altruistic intention for peace and compassion offer an insight into our interconnection and impermanence.

This year, Symmetree will also be celebrating the local community of Tibetan refugee families, "as we shine a light on the current situation in Tibet, as well the beautiful, ancient culture of their county,” said Trone.

What is the meaning of the Sacred Sand Mandala?

The Sacred Sand Mandala, a kind of “painting” made by thousands of grains of sand, is a Tibetan Buddhist art form thought to have originated in India and brought to Tibet in the Middle Ages. “Mandala” is a Sanskrit word meaning cosmogram or “world in harmony.” Traditionally the sand mandala is carefully constructed from dyed sand particles using two metal tubes (chakpurs) into images that represent the Tibetan Buddhist universe. The mandala is considered a vehicle to generate compassion, demonstrate the impermanence of reality, and bring a sense of healing to a place or to a group of people.

Over these five days the monks will build this extremely intricate traditional image in a meditative and prayerful fashion, literally one grain of sand at a time, on a five-foot square piece of wood. The process begins and concludes each day with chanted prayers for nonviolence, peace, interfaith understanding, and the growth of compassion.

In addition, the monks will also be selling unique and beautiful Tibetan crafts, prayer beads, jewelry, shawls, bags and spiritual items. All funds raised help provide food, housing, healthcare and education for the 2000 monks, many of whom are refugees, at Drepung Gomang Monastery in India. In addition, donations of any size are deeply appreciated.

For more information please visit Symmetree, 20 Bay View St, Camden, or contact Cynthia Trone at symmetreemaine@gmail.com.

To learn about the 2023-25 Sacred Arts Tour Monks visit the website of Drepung Gomang Monastery at www.DrepungGomang.org.