Mandala Sand Painting Closing Ceremony
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| The Rinpoche prepares for the closing ceremony. |
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| Traditionally most sand mandalas are destroyed shortly after their completion. This is done as a metaphor of the impermanence of life. |
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| The sands are swept up and placed in an urn; to fulfill the function of healing, half is distributed to the audience at the closing ceremony. |
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| The remainder is carried to a nearby body of water. Here, the procession leaves the Performing Arts Center headed for the Pacific Ocean. |
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| In a ceremony by the sea, the monks recite prayers requesting the ocean to accept the blessing of the colored sands. |
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| The ocean now receives the healing blessing from the sand, and will spread it throughout the world for planetary healing. |
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