I photographed Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India as they created the Paradise of the Medicine Buddha sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. The monks have traveled across the states over the past year and eight months creating mandalas. A mandala is an ancient art form that includes prayer, meditation and blessings. The monks create the the sand sculpture for peace, harmony and healing of the environment and the people who dwell within it. Over their time in the states, this particular group of monks have created mandalas in San Francisco, California, Sante Fe, New Mexico, New York City, Maryland, New Jersey and Louisianna to name a few places. These are some of my favorite images.
Multicolored sand sits in small silver bowls as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India create a mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Dorji, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The mandala is created as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India use great care to place layers of multicolored sand in a design representing the Paradise of the Medicine Buddha at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Multicolored sand sits in small silver bowls as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India create a mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Dorji, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Dorji, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, changes out the color of sand in his tool as he helps to create a mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Dorji, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The mandala is created as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India use great care to place layers of multicolored sand in a design representing the Paradise of the Medicine Buddha at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, left, and Gen Dorji, Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, help to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
A variety of colored sands sit in small silver bowls as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, uses a small wooden tool to straighten the lines of sand as he helps to create a mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Geshe Chopel watches as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, center, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Gen Wangchuk, left, and Gen Dorji, Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, help to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The multicolored sand grains actually form a three dimensional work of art once the mandala is complete.
A variety of colored sands sit in small silver bowls as Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The sand mandala is created during meditation by Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India. This particular mandala is known as The Paradise of the Medicine Buddha.
Gen Dorji, one of the Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, helps to create a sand mandala at the Unity North Atlanta Church in Marietta on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
Precision artwork and lovely result