Destroying a sand mandala isn’t the end – it’s the start of learning how to let go. This was the place that gave me the time to truly be with myself, my thoughts and every choice I’ve made so far. It’s not just about making art – it’s about what happens in your head while you make it. And when it’s over, you have to destroy your creation, knowing nothing lasts forever. The real magic isn’t in the moment you finish the mandala – it’s in the quiet in-between. In a world that keeps us endlessly distracted – podcasts, videos, notifications – it’s rare to just sit with our own thoughts.
The process is slow, delicate and completely absorbing. You use a traditional Tibetan tool called a chak-pur – a narrow metal funnel that vibrates to release fine streams of sand, just as Tibetan monks have done for over a thousand years. Every grain has its place, every movement is intentional. And yet, when it’s done, you brush it all away. That’s the beauty of this ancient art – it teaches you that nothing, no matter how beautiful or hard-earned, will stay forever. If you’re holding on too tightly to something – or struggling with something you wish would end – this is the reminder: everything passes. In a time where everyone talks about ‘sustainability,’ a sand mandala is the opposite. Tibetan monks can spend weeks building something so precise and breathtaking, only to sweep it away in seconds. It’s not waste – it’s wisdom. A gentle nudge to live in the present and let go. Gompa Studio is built on that same belief: in a fast-paced world, meditation can feel impossible, so why not use art as the doorway in?
Here’s the surprising part – you don’t have to sit in silence for hours to reach that meditative state. When you’re creating a mandala, your eyes are fixed on the grains of sand, your hands move in rhythm, and the faint scraping of the chak-pur fills the air. Before you realise it, you’re in deep focus – no wandering thoughts, no mental to-do list. When the mandala is complete, everyone closes their eyes as the teacher chants Tibetan prayers – not for themselves, but for all beings in suffering. The belief is simple: when the people around us are free from pain, we find happiness too.