Ali and the Dalai Lama? Islam is about as friendly toward Buddhism (a non-people-of-the-book religion) as it is to liquor stores.
By meticulously tapping sand out of foot-long steel funnels, eight Tibetan monks are creating a sacred artwork to commemorate the friendship of Louisville native Muhammad Ali and the Dalai Lama.
Seated on thin mattresses in the glass-enclosed lobby of a Louisville building, the monks started on the multicolored mandala Monday, and are due to finish it next week.
Traditionally, the artworks are destroyed upon completion to symbolize the impermanence of beautiful things, a central tenet of Buddhist philosophy. This one, however, will be secured with sprayed-on glue and dedicated at the grand opening Nov. 19 of the Muhammad Ali Center.
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