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Sand Mandala 

Sand Mandala 
Queenstown, New Zealand - June 2024

In June 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a Sand Mandala ritual in Queenstown, New Zealand. The monks who performed the ritual were from "Jam Tse Dhargey Ling", a Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Whangarei, New Zealand. 

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The creation of sand mandala is a deeply spiritual and intricate ritual rooted in Tibetan Buddhism. It involves the meticulous process of designing and creating a mandala using colored sand and is regarded as both a form of meditation and a devotional practice. The ritual typically unfolds over several days or even weeks, depending on the complexity of the mandala. I was fortunate to attend the ceremony on the second-to-last day.

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The sand mandala symbolizes the impermanence of life, and the process itself is seen as a meditation on compassion, mindfulness, and the interconnectedness of all beings. 

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Monks carefully arrange the sand to form intricate patterns that represent the universe, divine figures, and spiritual concepts. The designs are often geometric and can feature detailed depictions of deities, sacred symbols, and elements that reflect the cycle of life. 

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Once the mandala is completed, the ritual culminates in a symbolic act of destruction, where the sand is swept away or dispersed. This act represents the Buddhist belief in the impermanence of all things and the transient nature of life. The sand is often collected and later scattered into a body of water, symbolizing the dispersal of the blessings and positive energy generated during the creation of the mandala. 

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This ritual was especially meaningful to me because of the profound impact the film Samsara (2011) had on me. The very first scene of the movie depicts this same ritual, and as a 17-year-old, I was deeply moved by its symbolism. To witness it in person - perhaps in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Queenstown, New Zealand - and capture it through my photography was an experience I will always treasure.

Sand Mandala

Queenstown, New Zealand, June 2024.

More in Documentary.

Here you can find another documentary project I’ve worked on: Journeys, in Wanaka, New Zealand.

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Bianca 

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