"When we're making the mandala, our intention is for blessing, you know," Buddhist monk Geshe Tsewang Punchok said. Punchok is one of four monks creating a mandala by 'painting' with sand.

Now they are created throughout the world, including New York City. A special sand mandala painting is a gift to New York City from the Tibetan Buddhist monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery as a tolken ...