The teachings of the Buddha, known as the Dharma, returned to Woodstock this month as a group of Tibetan monks from Tashi Kyil Monastery visited the region to share sacred traditions of art, meditation, and healing.
Woodstock has a long history of Buddhist practice. In 1975, Kalu Rinpoche, a senior meditation master in the Kagyu lineage, gave teachings and initiations in private homes. Three years later, Khenpo Kathar and Bardor Tulku Rinpoche established Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) atop Mead’s Mountain Road, now one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist retreat centers in North America
The latest visit continued that legacy. The monks, representing the Gelugpa lineage—whose spiritual head is the Dalai Lama—created two sand mandalas over the course of several days. The first was completed at the Tashi Kyil Tibetan Buddhist Institute (TKTBI) on Route 28 in Kingston, followed by a second at the old Woodstock Library from Oct. 16-19.
The sand mandala is one of Tibetan Buddhism’s oldest and most intricate art forms, dating back more than a thousand years. Each design represents a celestial palace inhabited by enlightened beings, with every color and symbol carrying spiritual meaning. Constructing a mandala is considered a meditation in itself—a practice of mindfulness, compassion, and devotion that reflects the impermanence of all things. Once complete, the mandala is ritually dismantled, its sand returned to water to symbolize the natural cycle of creation and dissolution.
Residents and visitors were invited to witness the slow and deliberate construction of the mandalas, an ancient art form symbolizing peace and harmony. Using metal cones filled with colored sand, the monks tapped out intricate patterns grain by grain while maintaining a state of deep meditation.
Labrang Tashi Kyil, the monastery in eastern Tibet, was once one of the largest in the region before its destruction during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In 1967, exiled monks rebuilt it in Dehradun, India, where they continue to preserve Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Throughout their stay, the monks and guest speakers offered free public programs. Tibetan doctor Kunchok Tseten presented a lecture on traditional medicine, explaining the “three humors”—phlegm, bile, and wind—that must be balanced for good health. Later, noted Buddhist scholar and Woodstock resident Robert Thurman spoke on the symbolism of mandalas as representations of enlightened wisdom. The evening concluded with a “Songs of Peace” concert featuring local musicians.
Thangkas, sacred Buddhist paintings by visiting artist Buchung Nubgya, adorned the walls of both venues, adding color and context to the spiritual atmosphere.
The closing ceremony on Sunday marked the completion and dissolution of the mandala. After chanting and prayers for peace, the monks divided the intricate artwork into eight sections and swept the sand into piles. Attendees received small envelopes of sand as mementos before the remainder was carried in a processional to the stream behind Bearsville Theater, where it was released amid the sound of long horns, drums, and chanting.
The ritual, central to Buddhist philosophy, represents impermanence—the understanding that all things, no matter how beautiful or meaningful, eventually pass away. One observer compared the moment to the spirit of Percy Shelley’s poem Ozymandias, a reflection on the transience of even the greatest human creations.
For those interested in further teachings or meditation practice, TKTBI continues to offer programs in Kingston. More information is available by contacting Venerable Director Yeshi Rabgyal at 845-383-1774 or tibetancenter@tktbi.org.
Peter Blum is a writer and hypnotist. Reach him at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.