Losang samten biography sample

Interview with Mary K. Lee

NEA: I want to congratulate you on your award. Could you talk about your reaction when you heard the news?

MR.

Losang samten biography sample

SAMTEN: I got the phone call from Barry Bergey and I didn't understand at first what the phone call was about. After he explained, I was really very happy. I truly care for this tradition and so the recognition is wonderful.

NEA: Can you tell me how you became a mandala painter?

MR.

SAMTEN: In my monastery, the Namgyal Monastery - the monastery of His Holiness the Dali Lama - mandala painting is one of the subjects we have to learn. You have to learn the painting, the design, the meaning of the colors and the purpose.

I came to the United States in 1988 and since then there has been a huge interest across the country - and all over the world, in fact - from museums and galleries wanting to know about this culture, especially sand painting or sand mandala.

NEA: When you came in 1988, was that when you created mandala in the Museum of Nat