S3 Ep3: Sacred Sand Art Not Long for this World, Part 2

Today we’re continuing our two part journey into sand paintings not long for this world. This time we’re heading into the world of sacred sand paintings at what’s known as the roof of the world, Tibet, an autonomous zone in China which is just north of the Himalayan mountains.

Let’s go beyond the spinning Tibetan prayer wheels, the luminous glow of multitudes of flickering butter candles, and into the mystery of the sand painting called the Kalachakra Mandala. If you haven’t seen it please visit us on Instagram @Whisperinggallerypodcast.

There are hundreds of deities concealed within the mysterious, and flat, 2D sand painting. I’m not sure if this is just representative? Given logic, spatial limitations ie the missing full size mansion with rooms and different floors with room for the deities there’s no clear explanation how they pull this off—If we go all sci-fi or mystical maybe they’re in there somehow, just around the corner so to speak. Dimensions, wormholes or string theory - who knows?

So Sand painting versus 3D model of the five floor mansion rendered in Maya that we can explore… not today my friends, not today.

Instead, Hold on to your hat! Because what you’re actually looking at-is- the 3D Kalachakra Mandala, from above. Drone view of a five-story mansion holding 722 deities — and this is where the Kalachakra deity manifests the state of enlightenment.

If your head is spinning, you’re not alone.

Thanks to:

• internet archive for our music
• Wonders of Tibet.com
• Great Courses
• Good Reads
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmistaken_Child
• Amazon Prime
• Namgyal.org
• Namgyalmonastery.org
• Wou.edu Western Oregon University
• bbc.co.uk
• Archive.sltrib.com The Salt Lake Tribune
• Britanica.com
• Wikipedia
• Wikimedia.org
• mandala-painting.com/sand-mandalas/
• Kalachakra - the Enlightenment (documentary)
  • The monks who made the Mandala were:
  • Tenzin Chokden, Tenzin Choedak, Tenzin Lyang, Tenzin Kalsang, Tenzin Lodoe, Tenzin Nyima
• https://freesound.org/people/kevp888/sounds/440240/ kevp888 Sept 14th 2018 br_094_Himalaya_Buddhistmonks.mpe
• https://freesound.org/people/kevp888/sounds/440242/ kevp888 BR_096_Himalaya_BuddhistMonks.mp3
• https://freesound.org/people/djgriffin/sounds/98844/ djgriffin, June 11 2010 Tibetan Buddhist chanting > ganze gompa monks the monks morning meditation prayer ritual
• https://freesound.org/people/TitusL108/sounds/272058/ TitusL108 Tibetan sounds > Tibetan singing bowl 3
• Ghost of the Mountains, Disney Documentary

The writing and production of the Whispering Gallery podcast and copyright are held by Suzanne Nikolaisen. If you would like to support the podcast visit buymeacoffee.com/suznikart to help cover the cost of books, research subscriptions and our podcast host.

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Thank you again for listening! Keep your flashlight close and your spooky art stories closer while visiting the Whispering gallery.

Image source: namgyal.org/sand-mandala

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