The Allen County Public Library, in partnership with the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, will host the monks of the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery from December 8, 2025, to December 13, 2025.
Allen County Public Library news release:
ACPL Welcomes Monks of Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery for World Peace Sand Mandala Creation
Fort Wayne, Indiana (December 4, 2025) – The Allen County Public Library (ACPL), in partnership with the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, will host the monks of the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery from Monday, December 8 through Saturday, December 13, as they create an intricate World Peace Sand Mandala inside the Main Library’s Great Hall. The public is invited to observe the process daily as it is being created.
Sand mandalas are a sacred Tibetan Buddhist art form—intricately designed patterns made entirely of colored sand. Each mandala represents a symbolic map of the universe and is traditionally created as an act of compassion, healing, and mindfulness. The process requires extraordinary skill, patience, and precision, as the monks use fine metal funnels to gently layer millions of grains of sand into geometric patterns.
The monks, who will be visiting from the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery, travel the world sharing Tibetan culture, art, and teachings. Their work promotes intercultural understanding while also supporting the preservation of monastic life and education.
Once complete, the mandala will remain on display briefly before a closing ceremony in which it is ritually dissolved—a symbolic reminder of the temporary nature of all things.
“This event is beautiful, educational, and profound,” said Beth Boatright, ACPL Director of Community Partnerships and Programs. “Watching the mandala take shape is mesmerizing—but witnessing its dissolution is equally powerful. This event is an opportunity to learn about Tibetan culture and to be reminded that peace, compassion, and community are ongoing practices, not final destinations. The mandala offers an invitation to pause, reflect, and carry those values forward.”
The following times are free and open to the public at the Main Library:
Opening Ceremony: Dec. 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Mandala Creation: Dec. 8 through 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (3 p.m. on Dec. 9)
Closing Ceremony: Dec. 13 at 10 a.m.Visitors are welcome to return throughout the week to witness the slow and transformative progress of the work. For more information, visit www.acpl.info/events. To learn more about the touring monks, visit www.tashikyil.org.
Additionally, the visiting monks will present a cultural program on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Plymouth United Church of Christ (501 W. Berry St.).
About the Allen County Public Library
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 135 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 3.9 million items, with a circulation total of 4.6 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
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