Morganton Community Mandala on the Courthouse Square

Morganton's community mandala was first created in 2019, when Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery visited Morganton and spent a week creating their own mandala at CoMMA. During the monks' stay, citizens were invited to use sand to make their own mandala. The design for the community mandala was created by City of Morganton Project Designer Michael Berley. Each geometric element represents our community, its history, and its culture. Read more about each element by clicking on the PDF below.

Once the monks completed their mandala, they ceremoniously destroyed it and disposed of it in the Catawba River, as it customary upon completing a mandala. The custom represents the impermanence of life and achievements. This community mandala is now an art installation on the newly renovated Courthouse Square in Downtown Morganton.

Morganton’s Community Mandala is a geometric configuration of cultural symbols representative of our community, its history, and natural resources.

Traditionally, mandalas are used in spiritual practices for focusing attention of practitioners in establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation.  The mandala’s purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing.