A stunning but temporary work of art on display at Tulane Medical School

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A group of Buddhist monks is in New Orleans creating a stunning piece of art at Tulane Medical School that will disappear this afternoon.

According to Tulane Philosophy Professor Karl Schmid, “The hope here is that this is both a representation of and a reminder for the medical students and the health care professionals at this location of that active empowerment sort of to care for others and to help others overcome physical mental and emotional obstacles.”

The purpose behind this week’s construction of the sand mandala by the Drepung Gomang Monastery monks is a physical representation of what a meditator will visualize in their practice.

Khenrap Chaeden, of the monastery explains, “This mandala is the Green Tara female Buddha.”

That female Buddha Green Tara is meant to embody fearlessness, remove obstacles, and offer protection from suffering.

The visit is sponsored by the library at Tulane Medical School, who’s director says that the context fits the environment.

“Just in general the libraries are places of calm, inspiration, contemplation and self discovery. So watching and witnessing a highly meditative act of calm and inspiring to watch a group of highly trained, very skilled professionals focus all their energy and all they’re consciousness into achieving a singular outcome,” said Keith Pickett, Library Director.

The work culminates in a beautiful piece that gets dissolved at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Until then, the sand mandala is on display at 1430 Tulane Ave.

Visitors should check in at the desk on the first floor.

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