FREE, regular admission to the rest of the Museum.

The Venerable Losang Samten, renowned Tibetan scholar and former Buddhist monk, served as he attendant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  In 1988, Losang was instructed to demonstrate the art of sand painting as the first to be offered in the West.  Since then he has created sand mandalas in many museums, including the American Museum of National History in New York, the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as at universities across the country.

Losang served as religious technical advisor and sand mandala supervisor for and appeared in Martin Scorsese’s film about the Dalai Lama, Kundun, which will be shown at the MFA on Thursday, January 7, at 6:30p.m.  He is also the spiritual director of numerous Buddhist Centers in the United States.

Mandalas have been referred to as “visual scripture,” which can be seen as dwellings for enlightened beings.  Sand Mandalas are created with great care and details accuracy, bringing the sacred symbols to life in order to share an uplifting message.  For more information, please go to www.losangsamten.com.

The MFA schedule follows:

Sunday, January 3, noon: Drawing of the Mandala
Monday, January 4 – Friday, January 15, 10a.m. – noon and 1 – 4p.m.: Creation of the Mandala
Monday, January 4, 2p.m.: Blessing of the Sand
Thursday, January 7, 6:30p.m.: Kundun (Martin Scorsese film), Marly Room
Saturday, January 9, 2p.m.: Book-signing, Ancient Teachings in Modern Times by Losang Samten, Museum Store
Saturday, January 16, noon: Dismantling Ceremony

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