Visitors from the Tibetan Cultural Institute are teaching lessons of harmony, patience and impermanence at the University of Northern Iowa. Four men are building a mandala in the lobby of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
The intricate design is made of colored sand, constructed grain by grain. The breathtaking finished product will be intentionally swept away on Sunday.
Tibetan monk Gee-she Thupten Dorjee says visitors plead with him not to destroy the creation. He says everything in the universe is subject to change and destruction and nothing lasts forever, adding, "This is a lesson for the students."
The Gee-she’s niece, a doctoral student at U.N.I. conceived of the project.
See pictures of the mandala here .