Buddhist monks bring elaborate art designs to campus

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
October 10, 2007

Buddhist monks have quietly returned to La Salle’s campus this week, spreading their philosophy of peace and compassion through the fusion of art and religion.

Mike Dao - Buddhist monks visit La Salle and share sacred art in the Art Museum.

The monks of the Drepung Gomang monastery in India were last in town during the Fall 2005 semester, and Philadelphia is one of the final stops of this year’s American tour.

“We were so successful last time that there was no question of bringing them back,” said Cornelia Tsakiridou, associate professor of philosophy and director of the Diplomat-In-Residence program.

The small committee Tsakiridou worked with while planning the arrival of the monks decided that they wanted to bring the monks back some time ago, it was only a question of how soon.

“We wanted to wait until there was a new body of students to bring them back,” Tsakiridou said.

With two years passed, the Buddhist monks have been spotted walking around campus once more, instantly recognizable with their shaved heads and deep red robes. Their primary activity here has been constructing a sand mandala in the La Salle Art Museum, a ceremony that Tsakiridou described as an “essential part of Buddhism.”

“I would like all students to take the opportunity to see the sand mandala,” she said. “It is very rare to be able to witness something like that.”

The sand mandala is made out of crushed and colored marble. A team of monks construct the mandala over the course of one week and then destroy the artwork upon its completion. According to Tsakiridou, Buddhists believe the mandala has the power to heal all who come in contact with it. The monks visiting La Salle will work on the mandala in the Art Museum all week, and then dismantle it Oct. 11 at 12:45 p.m. during a ceremony in the museum.

“We are fortunate to have the museum, because it gives us a place to put the mandala,” Tsakiridou said. “The more opportunities we have to connect classes to real-life examples, the more students learn.”

Some students responded negatively to the monk-centric activities. Trisha Russo, a sophomore psychology major, was initially excited for the week long event.

“I was interested at first, I saw the signs and read information on the Web site,” she said. “But I would have been more interested if the monks were more new age Buddhist instead of orthodox Buddhist. I couldn’t really relate to what they said.”

Buddhist monks are originally native to Tibet, a Chinese-occupied region of Central Asia that has suffered culturally since the Communist Chinese government took over in 1959. The Drepung Gomang monastery in India is home to around 2,000 monks, many of whom fled from oppressive governments like that of Tibet. The need for shelter for these monks is great, and food is in short supply, so proceeds from the tour are going to pay for basic necessities at the monastery.

Tsakiridou calls the situation in Tibet “genocide.” Not only have the Chinese been responsible for over 2 million deaths in Tibet caused by brutality and starvation, they have effectively destroyed Tibet’s heritage, Tsakiridou said.

“They don’t consider Tibet to be Tibet. They call it China,” she said. “Tibetans have become a minority.”

Tsakiridou encourages students to learn more about the struggle Tibetans have undergone over the years. She compared the situation with monks who were recently arrested in Burma to the plight of the monks in Tibet.

“What’s going on in Tibet is more dramatic,” Tsakiridou said. “But both have not had sufficient pressure from other governments to improve and gain autonomy.”

After the monks visited La Salle in 2005, a chapter of Students for a Free Tibet was established. According to Tsakiridou, involvement has declined.

“The group never really picked up, but I’d really encourage students to get in touch with me if they are interested in getting involved.”

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu