Source: The Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/cgi-bin/slwebsto.cgi?DBLIST=mc01&DOCNUM=7343
On February 21, 2001, the Allentown Morning Call reported on a visit by 10 Tibetan monks to Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania. The monks wanted to raise awareness about their culture and about the Chinese occupation of Tibet, as well as to raise money for their monastery. During their visit they talked about their principle of nonviolence and about finding common ground with people from other religions. They spent four days composing a sand "mandala," an intricate design out of colored sand, which they use when they want to heal the environment or other people. The design is destroyed in seconds, which symbolizes the impermanence of everything in this world. Their hosts were struck by the monks' inner peace and lack of hatred towards others.