Story by Gareth Kelly
Photos Courtesy of Anet Carlin

Anet Carlin, herself a Buddhist, received a phone call more than a year ago asking if she would be willing to host a group of monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in southern India as they spent four weeks touring the Central Coast sharing their culture, their traditions and their sand mandalas. She was delighted to be asked, said yes and today is enjoying their tour and their presence.
A sand mandala is a beautiful, colorful mosaic produced by spreading fine granules of colored sand around in a specific pattern. The sand is hand made by the monks themselves and was brought by them all the way from India. Each mandala symbolizes the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitional nature of material life.
They began their tour with a Green Tara Mandala at Steynberg Gallery in San Luis Obispo. Each monk spends about four to five days working to complete the mandala. At the end, after hours and hours of intricate work the mandala is swept away like it never even existed. The sand is collected and is dispersed in many different ways. For this particular mandala the sand was put into the San Luis Obispo creek.
“A mandala is a form of meditation. A path to future enlightenment,” said Geshe, one of the monks who was manning their merchandise table covered with traditional pieces of art, scrolls from the Dalai Lama and Free Tibet stickers.
“I have been a monk since I was 11- years- old,” said Geshe. “I was born in India and chose to become a monk. There are about ten thousand monks in India. There are still monks in Tibet but they can only pray and build mandalas. They are not allowed to talk of politics.”
Their tour of the Central Coast will run through May 8. After SLO the monks moved on to the Earthtones Gallery in Paso Robles before arriving at the Oceano Train Depot April 29 through May 3. They will finish their tour at Allan Hancock Art Gallery in Santa Maria May 4 through 8.
“Our monastery is like a school,” Geshe said. “Some people choose to become monks others are sent by their family or because they are sick. We provide all the education and all the teachings to become a monk. In order to do this we must raise funds. These tours overseas and our merchandise help us do this.”
With their traditional robes and humble demeanor the monks have been exploring the Central Coast when not building the mandalas and have also offered personal blessings or pujas. I asked Geshe what he enjoyed about the Central Coast.
“I like the food especially buffets,” he said. “Also the cars are very nice. People here value education, but school here does not use a stick to teach. I also will be taking a big broom back with me to India. We have to sweep the monastery but have no big brooms like this.”
The sand mandalas really are incredible things to watch being made. Luckily you still have time. Visit www.charley.net for the monks schedule and go check them out for yourselves.

Gareth wants to kick off his flip-flops and play around in the sand himself. What do you like to play in? Email him at