Hey Hey, They're the Monks: Sand Mandala Construction to Begin Tuesday

For the third year, a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks will sculpt a colored sand mandala inside Laguna Beach's , and the public is invited to watch.

The monks, this time representing India's Drepung Loseling Thukhang Monastery, will be welcomed to Laguna Beach this coming Sunday, Sept. 16, with a special call to worship service, and music supplied by Cheryl Crandall.

Construction of the mandala will begin Tuesday, Sept. 18, and will be finished by Saturday, Sept. 22. Following the completion, the monks will prepare a Tibetan meal to which the public is invited. For more information, contact Pam Wicks at 949-573-7104.

During the five days that the mandala is being built, the church will be open from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., so people can watch the monks at work.

Then on Sunday, Sept. 23, the monks will dissolve the mandala on a nearby beach following the church's 10 a.m. service. The mandala's construction and subsequent destruction symbolizes the brief existence of life.

"We’re trying to give people an experience with the monks being here that they wouldn’t be able to have," the church's Senior Minister Reverend B. J. Beu told Patch during last year's mandala build. "The teachings of Buddha and the teachings of Jesus are perfectly compatible. It’s a great opportunity for us to open our doors and invite in the community."

Click here to read Laguna Beach Patch's coverage of last year's mandala construction, along with lots of photos. And click here to watch a short video of the construction as well.