American Museum of Natural History. Photo Studio

Scope and Contents

Slides of the demonstration The Wheel of Time Sand Mandala, held at the American Museum of Natural History, July-August 1988. Images of Tibetan monks creating a sand mandala with museum visitors observing.

Abstract Tibetan monks from the Gyuto Tantric Monastery making butter sculptures in a month-long butter sculpting project in the AMNH Whitney Memorial Hall of Oceanic Birds. The sculptures depicted a number of figures including Shayamuni Buddha, the five visions of Tsongkhapa, White Tara, 16 offering goddesses of Chakrasamvara, four protector dieties, the seven ornaments of royalty and the mandalas of Guhyasamaja, Vajrabhairava and Chakrasamvara, all embellished with delicate flowers and leaves. Some...