THE spirit of enlightenment brought music, tranquility and a touch of the exotic to the Ribble Valley yesterday.
Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet were guests at Whalley Library as part of a tour of the county.
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They began by blessing the library on Abbey Fields They then created a peace mandala - a highly complex circular design created from sand.
The monks poured coloured sand using a Chagpur - a funnel-shaped object - which allowed them to painstakingly create a unique pattern.
After the blessing, a series of workshops were held, including a beginner’s guide to Tibetan, creating a miniature mandala and butter sculpting.
Jane Rasch, from from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust, which was behind the monks’ tour, said visits like the one to Whalley were beneficial for both monks and visitors.
She said: “What we are exhibiting here is the monks’ way of life and trying to preserve their culture.
“It is important that people can see how the monks live and what they do on a day-to-day basis as any sort of experience of a new culture or way of life I believe always broadens the mind.”
The workshops included making a Dukar wheel, a good luck charm for both individuals and the home to prevent against paranormal disturbances.
Whalley residents also got the chance to print ‘Lung-ta’ - prayer flags that are put up around new year, birthdays and sacred roads and buildings. Peter Howitt, 39, from Whalley, said he enjoyed trying his hand at mandala-making.
He said: “It is very relaxing. You get so engrossed in what you’re doing you forget what’s going on around you.
“It’s a great feeling and satisfying to do and, having an interest in meditation and Buddhism, I enjoyed having the chance to do something like this which you normally can’t do in Whalley.”
Jane Rasch added: “We want the monks to tour and visit different parts of the world to keep their traditions alive.
“The number of monks is decreasing and it would be disastrous for this way of live to be abolished and forgotten about.”
The event was organised by Spot On Lancashire and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust.
The monks will also be visiting The Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick tomorrow from 2pm.
For information visit www.spotonlancashire.co.uk
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