Humboldt Students Visit Buena Vista University to Observe Tibetan Monks

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STORM LAKE, IA (11/01/2017) (readMedia)-- A group of students from Humboldt Community High School visited Buena Vista University (BVU) to watch a group of Tibetan monks create an intricate sand mandala.

In addition to observing the making of the sand mandala, the eleventh and twelfth grade students had the opportunity to participate in a question/answer session with the Tibetan monks.

The monks are from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India and will be on campus through Friday, Nov. 3. The purpose of the visit is to educate others about their culture and to share an artistic tradition with the community by constructing the sand mandala in the Art Gallery on the BVU campus.

The public is welcome to watch the creation of the sand mandala any time throughout the remainder of the week from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. There will also be a special community event in the BVU Art Gallery on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Traditionally, once the sand mandala is complete, a closing ceremony takes place and the mandala is destroyed to symbolize the fleeting nature of life. The sands are swept up and placed in an urn, then half is distributed to spectators and the remainder is deposited into a nearby body of water. The closing ceremony will begin in the BVU Art Gallery at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3. The remaining sand will be deposited into the waters of Storm Lake near the BVU campus.

For more information about the monks' visit, please contact Bhattacharyya at bhattacharyya@bvu.edu or 712-749-2181.

About Buena Vista University

Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. With an average scholarship of more than 50 percent off of tuition, BVU is an affordable option for all students. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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