Witness the sacred art of Sand Mandala – the painting with coloured sands is considered the most unique and exquisite of all artistic traditions of Buddhism. This Tibetan art form is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which means “mandala of coloured powders.” Tibetan monks will be constructing the Mandala from June 27 through July 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The public is welcome to visit and watch the progress of the Sand Mandala through the period.
Opening Ceremony: Saturday, June 28, 12pm-12:30pm
End Ceremony: Sunday, July 6, 5pm – 6pm
Duration: Daily, Saturday June 28 – Saturday, July 5; 12pm-5pm
In partnership with the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre.
On the occasion of the birthday of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan monks will be creating the Chenrezig Mandala. Chenrezig means compassion; the Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama is the human manifestation of Chenrezig representing the compassion of Buddha’s past, present and future. The Sand Mandala represents many things, including the cycle of life — creation, beauty of existence and its impermanence, and finally, the return to the natural world for creation again. It is a transient art form, thought to have originated in India and been transferred in the middle ages to Tibet. Among the Tibetan arts, painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique and exquisite. Millions of grains of colored sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of several days, forming an intricate diagram of the enlightened mind and the ideal world. When finished, to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists, the colored sands are swept up and poured into a nearby river or stream where the waters carry the healing energies throughout the world.
Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre (TCCC)
In the spring of 2004, His Holiness bestowed the Kalachakra teaching for World Peace in Toronto to over 7,000 pilgrims from all walks of life. It was during this auspicious occasion that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama gave his blessings to the organization and granted the Tibetan name “Gangjong Choedenling” to the proposed community centre.
In the late and early 1970s, approximately 500 Tibetans sought refuge in Canada, making them the smallest immigrant group in the country. Approximately 350 Tibetans settled in Ontario and ensured the survival and growth of Tibetan identity and culture in a multicultural Canada. The influx of Tibetans in Ontario has been growing over the years and there are approximately over 5,000 Tibetans currently living in Ontario. To this day, the Tibetans here have been dedicated to preserving and promoting the values of the unique Tibetan cultural heritage in Ontario.
The Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre was acquired and established on October 17, 2007 (the auspicious day when His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the US Congressional Gold Medal – the highest US civilian award). It is located on 40 Titan Road at the corner of Titan Road and Islington in the city of Etobicoke. Currently the Centre offers a variety of programs and services.
tcccgc.org