Tibetan Buddhist monk Lama Zopa Rinpoch (R) prepares to lay the first grains of sand for "The Compassionate Sand Mandala for World Peace" during an opening ceremony at the National Cathedral in Washington October 16, 2007. The monks are from the Dalai Lama's personal Namgyal Monastery, and created the sacred mandala over three days to coincide with the Dalai Lama's visit to Washington. The mandala represents Buddha's divine place of residence and its creation and destruction is to symbolize the Buddhist concept of the impermanence of things and the importance of non-attachment. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)