A sand mandala — yes, this is made of tiny grains of sand — was recently completed by Tibetan monks from Gaden Shartse when they visited Westminster College in New Wilmington. The Buddhist monks will be at Slippery Rock University from Sunday through Oct. 31.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University presents the Buddhist monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery from Sunday through Oct. 31.

The Gaden Shartse Monastery was originally founded in Tibet in the mid-1400s as a learning center dedicated to developing practices to inner peace and compassion.

The SRU event features Monks of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism of which the Dalai Lama is the head.

Creation of two-dimensional sand mandalas will lead off the many events. The images require between 75 and 125 hours of painstaking effort, completed by several monks at a time. Upon completion, the monks purposely and ceremoniously destroy the magnificent work of art. The Buddha's last words were "All things are impermanent, work out your salvation with diligence." In upholding the principle that life is transient, the monks sweep up the mandala in a ritualistic ceremony.

All events are free and open to the public. Events include:

n Construction of Sand Mandala, Monday through Oct. 30 in Carruth Rizza Hall lobby, across from the Slippery Rock Post office

n Opening Reception and Film Screening: Dalai Lama Renaissance, 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Advanced Technology and Science auditorium

n Workshop: Meditation on Dependent Arising, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in Russell Wright Alumni House

n Vajravidharan Healing Ritual, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Church of Slippery Rock

n Public Lecture: World Peace and the Unity of All Religions, 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 in Spotts World Cultures auditorium

n Ceremonial Dissolution of Sand Mandala, noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 31 in Carruth Rizza Hall lobby

n Film Screening Kundun, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Advanced Technology and Science auditorium

n Farewell Reception, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Advanced Technology and Science Auditorium lobby.

Though events are free, donations will be accepted on behalf of the Gaden Shartse Culture Foundation.

Parking is available on Main Street. After 5 p.m., visitors may use commuter, faculty, or staff parking lots. Parking for the Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Church is available in the municipal parking lot.

The visit is sponsored by The International Arts and Cultures Series, The College of Humanities Fine and Performing Arts, The Asian Studies Foundation, The Office of International Services, and the Departments of Philosophy, Political Science, Professional Studies and Art.

For more information, 724-738-4996 or send e-mail to andrew.colvin@sru.edu.

For more information about the monks' tour, visit the Web site, www.gadenshartsetour.org.