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Asia Society Texas

The Mystical Arts of Tibet Featuring the Tibetan Monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 – Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016

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Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery will construct a mandala sand painting and perform special ceremonies August 18-21 in Asia Society Texas Center’s Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery. During this ritual, millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place in order to purify and heal the environment and its inhabitants.

Gallery Hours
Thursday, August 18: Noon-6 pm
Friday, August 19: 10 am-6 pm
Saturday, August 20: 10 am-7 pm*
Sunday, August 21: 10 am-completion of Closing Ceremony

*The monks will be working on the sand mandala from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, August 20. The gallery will remain open until 7 pm for visitors to view the sand mandala.

About the Exhibition

Opening Ceremony | Thursday, August 18, 12 pm | FREE Admission
The mandala sand painting begins with an opening ceremony, during which the lamas consecrate the site and call forth the forces of goodness through chanting, music, and mantra recitation. The lamas then begin the painting by drawing an outline of the mandala on a wooden platform. In the following days, they lay the colored sands using a traditional metal funnel called a chakpur.

Sacred Music and Dance Performance | Saturday, August 20, 7 pm | Ticketed Program
Robed in magnificent costumes and playing traditional Tibetan instruments, the Drepung Loseling monks perform ancient temple music and dance intended to kindle world healing. The Loseling monks are particularly renowned for their multiphonic chanting known as zokkay (complete chord) and are the only culture on earth that cultivates this most extraordinary vocal ability. Each of the main chantmasters simultaneously intones three notes, thus each individually creating a complete chord.

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Closing Ceremony | Sunday, August 21, 3 pm | FREE Admission
The monks will dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of life. Half of the sands will be distributed to the audience at the closing ceremony, while supplies last, and the remainder will be deposited into a natural body of water.

Related Links

Learn more here.

HOURS & ADMISSION

  • Wednesday, Friday - Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Thursday (free admission all day), 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Closed Monday and Tuesday and major holidays.
  • Explore Asia Admission: Six interactive stations; includes complimentary access to current exhibition in the Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery. $15 per guest ages 13 and up. $9 per guest ages 7–12. Free for guests ages 6 and under and for Asia Society members. Louisa Stude Sarofim Gallery Admission Only: $8 per guest. Free for guests ages 6 and under and for Asia Society members.   Free exhibition admission on Thursdays from 12 pm – 7 pm, presented by Regions Bank.

Directions & Parking

  • Free Parking
  • Paid Parking
  • Street Parking
  • Parking in Asia Society Texas Center's lot is $7 for 1-24 hours. Entrances on Caroline and Austin. Limited free and paid street parking is also available.

Special Offers / Dining

Java Lava Cafe
Serving 100 percent premium Kona coffee from KarmaSu Coffee Farm in Hawaii, plus breakfast, lunch, and sweet treats, Java Lava Cafe is open for extended breakfast hours Tuesday–Saturday.

Hours
Tuesday – Saturday, 8:30 am – 3 pm
https://asiasociety.org/texas/java-lava-cafe

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