Giving with Gopin Highlights Tibetan Sand Mandala at El Paso Museum of History

At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, giving back to the community is about more than supporting charitable organizations—it’s about celebrating the cultural experiences, traditions, and people who make El Paso such a vibrant and unique place to live. Through the Giving with Gopin initiative, attorney Michael Gopin and his team highlight individuals and organizations that contribute positively to the community.

Visiting El Paso Museum of History

In this latest episode of Giving with Gopin, Michael visits the El Paso Museum of History to witness the creation of a Tibetan Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala by the Venerable Lama Losang Samten. The exhibition, titled ‘Losar: A Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala,’ was organized as part of the museum’s Lunar New Year celebration and offers visitors a rare opportunity to observe the sacred and intricate process of sand mandala creation.

Sand mandalas are among the most revered artistic traditions in Tibetan Buddhism. Created grain by grain using colored sand, these mandalas represent sacred spiritual symbols that reflect harmony, healing, and compassion. The process itself is a form of meditation and devotion. Lama Samten carefully uses metal funnels known as chakpur to release the sand in precise patterns, slowly building the complex design over several days.

The Medicine Buddha – Tibetan Buddhist

The specific mandala being created at the El Paso Museum of History represents the Medicine Buddha, a figure in Tibetan Buddhist tradition associated with healing energy and wisdom. The Medicine Buddha mandala symbolizes the idea that compassion and positive intention can bring healing to individuals and communities around the world.

The life story of Lama Losang Samten adds even greater depth to the experience. Born in central Tibet in 1953, Samten fled his homeland with his family during a time of great political upheaval. He later studied Buddhist philosophy, ritual traditions, and sacred art at Namgyal Monastery, the monastery of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In 1985, he earned a master’s degree in Buddhist Philosophy, Sutra, Tantra, and art.

From 1983 to 1993, Samten served as the personal attendant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 1988, he was sent to the United States to introduce Tibetan sand mandala art to Western audiences. This marked the first time many people in the United States had ever witnessed the meditative process of mandala creation.

Since then, Lama Samten has created sand mandalas at major museums and cultural institutions across North America and around the world. His work has received national and international recognition for its cultural and spiritual importance. In addition to his artistic demonstrations, Samten has founded Tibetan Buddhist centers in Philadelphia, Connecticut, and El Paso.

More on El Paso Museum of History

The El Paso Museum of History provided an incredible opportunity for local residents and visitors to witness this sacred art form firsthand. Observing the process allows people to appreciate not only the beauty of the finished mandala but also the patience, discipline, and spiritual intention required to create it.

Programs like this demonstrate the important role museums play in bringing diverse cultures and traditions to communities. The museum’s Losar celebration allows visitors to learn about Tibetan culture, Buddhist philosophy, and the deeper symbolism behind sacred ritual art.

Through Giving with Gopin, Michael Gopin continues to highlight meaningful programs and organizations that contribute to the cultural richness of El Paso. By sharing these experiences, the initiative helps connect the community with the people and institutions that make El Paso such a dynamic and welcoming place.

Watch the Giving with Gopin episode here:

YouTube Version 1 | YouTube Version 2

To learn more about the El Paso Museum of History and its upcoming programs and exhibitions, visit https://epmuseumofhistory.org/.

Michael J. Gopin

Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...