Near Fairfax in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
World Peace Sand Mandala
This sacred World Peace Sand Mandala was created in January 2019 of Drikung Dharma Surya Center by Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery in Dehradun, India.
The sand mandala is constructed my millions of grains of colored sand meticulously laid into place on a flat platform to represent the most unique, esoteric and exquisite artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The mandala's circular shape symbolizes unity and wholeness with each symbol having multiple meanings, representing the interconnectedness of all things.
The World Peace Sand Mandala was originally designed and constructed for St. Paul Catholic Center's Interfaith Peace Ceremony where persons of many faiths said prayers of peace in union with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama blessed the mandala and urged monks to continue to create it to spread a spirit of peace and harmony throughout the world.
The World Peace Sand Mandala is drawn on a mythical earth, featuring important images such as The Four Perfect Friends, Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, and Symbols of the World's Great Religions, with a sole purpose to generate compassion and inner peace, affect purification and healing, symbolize the impermanence of all that exists, and encourage everyone in the world to live peacefully together in loving-kindness,
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Outer Ring: The four Primary Colors of Buddhism, which protect the mandala
Earth • Water • Fire • Air
Ring 3: Eight Auspicious Symbols of Tibetan Buddhism
Lotus flower: represents purification
Vase of treasure: denotes prosperity
Golden fish: signified good fortune
Victory banner: symbolizes triumph over obstacles
White conch: announces the glory of Buddha
Endless knot: symbolizes interdependence
Precious umbrella: represents protection from suffering
Dharma wheel: represents the Buddha's doctrine
Ring 2: Symbols of different religions
Sainto (Tori/Gate) • Zoroastrianism • Islam (Crescent & Star) • Hinduism (Ohm) • Taoism (Yin & Yang) • Buddhism (Dharma Wheel) • Judaism (Star of David) • Sikh (Khanda) • Christianity (Cross) • Jainism (Hand with a Wheel)
Center: The Four Perfect Friends
In the story of the Four Perfect Friends, the elephant, monkey, rabbit, and bird competed to see who was greatest. The story's lesson? We each have different talents and can live harmonously.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
Location. 38° 48.952′ N, 77° 19.328′ W. Marker is near Fairfax, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker can be reached from Ox Road (Virginia Route 123) south of Zion Drive (Route 654), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5300 Ox Rd, Fairfax VA 22030, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Legend Story of the First Prayer Wheel / Prayer for World Peace and Welfare (here, next to this marker); Payne’s Church (approx. half a mile away); Clara H. Barton (approx. 0.9 miles away); In this Church of St. Mary’s (approx. 0.9 miles away); St. Mary’s Catholic Church (approx. one mile away); Skirmish at St. Mary’s (approx. one mile away); Welcome to Fairfax Station (approx. 1.2 miles away); Hogshead (approx. 1.2 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 6, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
