The Sacred Space in Numen Lumen was filled with members of the Elon community and beyond as Tibetan Buddhist monks Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin from the Kadampa Center pushed the vibrant sand of the Green Tara sand mandala into the middle of a table to represent that nothing is permanent.
Just three days ago, the monks began Elon University’s 12th annual Green Tara Sand Mandala Ceremony in the Truitt Center with a table as their canvas. The sand used to create the mandala is made of vibrantly colored crushed marble.
Hillary Zaken, Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement at Elon University, said starting the year off with a strong symbol of peace within the sacred space, is essential to harmonious academics.
“The beginning of the year is hectic,” Zaken said. “Everyone's coming in from all kinds of different places. Getting back into the rhythm of things, trying to feel at home and being able to come into a space that's filled with all of these really positive intentions.”
For many students and faculty, having peace on campus is especially important — not only in a physical way, but also in a spiritual way.
Lizeth Torres-Tomas, a junior multifaith second-year leadership intern at the Truitt Center, said she believes that through this event, participants get a sense of belonging.
“It's trying to bring those ripples within our campus, especially within an interfaith and multi-faith lens,” Torres-Tomas said.
According to Zaken, multifaith at Elon is the idea that the community promotes all forms of religion.
Within 30 minutes, Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin completed the closing mandala ceremony. As the multifaith interns gently pushed the marble sand into the center, they packaged and distributed the sand to attendees. The intent of this distribution was to encourage attendees to carry peace and serenity with them and throughout their lives, according to Kadampa Center outreach coordinator Elise Strevel, who spoke to the attendees before the closing ceremony.
The closing ceremony was impactful for many attendees, including freshman Lael Taylor. Taylor said by observing the deconstruction of the mandala, peace was shared with all.
Taylor also said the craftsmanship of the mandala and the monks chanting during the closing ceremony helped her reframe destruction.
“That's not something people necessarily think of,” Taylor said. “When you have put so much into something, it's normally about the end result, which this was not.”