Green Tara Sand Mandala - Elon University

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Wednesday, September 10, (All day) to Friday, September 12, (All day) 2025

Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin create a Green Tara Sand Mandala at Elon University

Wednesday, September 10 - Friday, September 12

Join us for this incredibly precious and rare opportunity to experience the creation and blessings of a Green Tara Sand Mandala.  Geshe Sangpo is one of very few monks in the world who is qualified to initiate the creation of sand mandalas through this beautiful, sacred practice.  Please mark your calendar and plan to attend any or all three days!  The Closing Ceremony is a particulary wonderful event to experience.

See below for schedule and location information ~ all are welcome!

 

Creation of the sand mandala takes place over the course of three days, as the monks painstakingly sprinkle sand to create the intricate patterns of the mandala.  Green Tara is a female buddha of compassion.  Representing enlightened activity, Tara is ready to take action to benefit living beings.  Her color green represents the wind element, as she moves quickly, like the wind, to help others.  During the Closing Ceremony where, in recognition of the impermance of all phenomena, the mandala will be deconstructed and part of the sacred sand will be taken to a body of water to be dispersed to benefit other beings throughout the world.  The remaining blessed sand will be available for attendees to take home, including instructions on how to use it.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

9 am, Wednesday, September 10

  • Opening Ceremony

  • Geshe Sangpo leads opening prayers and begins the three-day process of creating the sand mandala.

9:30 am - 5 pm, Wednesday and Thursday, September 10 and 11

  • Drop by anytime to witness the creation of the Green Tara Sand Mandala and to receive the blessing and merit of simply seeing and being in the presence of this holy spiritual object.

  • Browse the merchandise table and check out the hands-on mandala activities. 

9:30 am - 3 pm, Friday, September 12

  • Drop by anytime to witness the creation of the Green Tara Sand Mandala and to receive the blessing and merit of simply seeing and being in the presence of this holy spiritual object.

  • Browse the merchandise table and check out the hands-on mandala activities. 

  • Plan to attend the Closing Ceremony beginning at 3 pm.

3 pm, Friday September 12

  • Closing Ceremony

  • Geshe Sangpo leads closing prayers and the deconstruction of the sand mandala.

  • The sacred sand of the mandala is distributed to attendees.

LOCATION

Elon University, The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, located within the Numen Lumen Pavillion.

Campus Map HERE

Truitt Center info HERE