My roommate in Nepal was named Mandira, which means temple in Nepalese. I went with her to visit a temple where her sister lived in the Terai region, which is the flat area adjacent to India. The colors there were vivid, bright, beaming yellow mustard fields, more colorful saris, foods, tall grasses with rhino, tigers and elephants. The temple was beautiful and there the monks were creating a sand mandala. I had never seen one before, and I remember the trance of watching the mandala take shape. It was difficult for me to leave.

I had the most beautiful dream last night that involved mandalas, and I don't want to forget it so I am writing here. It was one of those mysterious dreams that I really didn't want to end, the ones that are vivid and that you think about over and over again. 

It was really simple. I had a jar of dark black/blue sand with flecks of gold or micah in it. There was a circle drawn on the floor. I slowly methodically poured the sand into my hands and then through my fingers into the circle for a long time, walking round and round the circle. I even remember how the sand felt sliding through my fingers. It was so vivid. When I finally stepped back to look at it, the mandala lay there like the night sky, the dark universe with fleck of gold peeking out. It was breathtaking.