By Jamie Bennett and Hannah Fitzsimons

Tibetan culture was shared with the school during “Compassion Week,” organized by history teacher, Sandy Crawford and the Asian Cultures Club for May 5-11.
The centerpiece of the week involved the construction of a magnificent sand mandala by four Tibetan monks. Everyday, students could walk by the construction sight and see the piece evolving before their very eyes, as the monks worked on it with both calm and exacting care.
On Saturday, the club hosted a variety of activities that expressed the monks feelings about communal support. The activities included observing mandala construction, watching a documentary, attending a Dance Troop benefit recital, and a Tibetan feast.
The creation of sand mandalas, a Tibetan Buddhist tradition, is the art of painting with colored sand. In Tibetan language, this art is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which means “mandala of colored powders.” Mandalas are built over a period of days or weeks by specially trained monks. The monks must learn to make the mandalas by heart and spend hours working on them. Lobsang explains that they use the mandala to draw people who are interested and teach them about their beliefs of compassion.
Mandala sand constructions are meant to encompass the idea of “compassion which is the most powerful strength a human being can have, it does not exclude anyone,” says Lobsang Phuntsok. “Compassion frees people from the challenges of everyday life.” Throughout the week, Lobsang has led discussions which have enlightened the student body about his unique culture and the meaning of the mandala.
The week will conclude with a ceremonial ritual in which the mandala is intentionally destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of all things, and the mandala itself is used to bless the earth and its inhabitants. Small mounds of sand from the piece will be distributed to the public and the rest of the colored particles will be washed down the Sudbury river. By intentionally washing the piece away, those who created it are in control of the piece’s fate, and it is a way for the monks to strive to control their own destiny.
Not only do Lobsang and the monks visit schools like L-S, but they are also helping others through a school, Jhamtse Gatsal, located in the Eastern Himalayan region of India, created for children in need.
The school is part of the non-profit organization Jhamtse International in Acton, Massachusetts, which focuses on spreading the ideas of love, wisdom, and compassion. Jhamtse Gatsal teaches the children Buddhist beliefs in addition to traditional school subjects. The school provides children with hope for a better life and a promising future.
Lobsang is raising money to help the children of Jhamtse Gastal, many of whom come from abusive situations, have lost parents, or are not properly cared for by their families. None of the children have ever attended school before, and the school provides them not only with an education, but also with a safe and loving home. Donations help finance educational programs, provide the children with clothing and food, and give them health care, among other needs.
If you are interested in donating to the monks’ cause, visit http://jhamtseinternational.org.