CUSHING — For the first time in history, the Sacred Art Tour from Mundgod, India, will be traveling to Maine to create an intricate sand mandala while sharing ancient Tibetan traditions and culture. The Georges River Land Trust will be hosting eight Tibetan refuge Buddhist monks as they work meticulously on the intricate design of the mandala, grain by grain of colorful sand, during a five-day period at Langlais Sculpture Preserve in Cushing. The monks will be visiting local schools, teaching a rock painting workshop, hosting a meditation and Dharma talk, cooking a Tibetan "momo" (dumpling) dinner, performing a pageant with traditional Tibetan musical instruments, and offering a fire "puja" (outdoor evening fire and blessing of wildlife). On the final day of their visit, they will present a dissolution ceremony of the mandala, and carry the sacred sand to the Georges River in Cushing to spread the wish for clean water, a healthy environment and global compassion.

This visit is part of a 10-month national tour from Drepung Gomang Monastery. The monks' intention is to not only share the importance of preserving threatened Tibetan traditions, but to educate about compassion, impermanence, interdependence, peace and collaboration. Hosting the monks at the Langlais Sculpture Preserve, a 90-acre preserve and artist environment in Cushing, Georges River Land Trust celebrates the important intersection of the arts and the environment. This unique international experience will bring attention to the importance of respect and care for our planet. All events are open to the public, all ages welcome. There will be Tibetan merchandise for sale at all events, to support 2,000 Tibetan refuge monks in Southern India. Donations are encouraged. For more information, call Cynthia at Georges River Land Trust, 594-5166, or email cynthia@grlt.org.

Events at Langlais Sculpture Preserve, 576 River Road, Cushing:

Mandala creation: Tuesday through Friday, March 27-30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rock Painting Workshop ($10 at door): Tuesday, March 27, 4 to 6 p.m.

Closing Ceremony and Blessing of the Georges River: Saturday, March 31, 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Event at Wheeler Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, 172 Clark Island Road, St. George:

Fire Puja and outdoor musical performance: Wednesday, March 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Event at UU Church, 345 Broadway, Rockland:

Traditional Tibetan culinary experience ($15 at door, children 12 and under free): Thursday, March 29, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Events at Dancing Elephant, 16 School Street, Rockland:

Tibetan Snow Lion Performance: Friday, March 30, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Meditation class and Dharma Talk: Saturday, March 31, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Georges River Land Trust has conserved nearly 4,000 acres of land in the Georges River Watershed region and provides access to more than 60 miles of hiking along the Georges Highland Path. For more information to volunteer or conserve land, call (207) 594-5166 or visit www.georgesriver.org