The Kansas City Star said the monks "simply smiled and started over."

"It teaches us that nothing is permanent," said Staci Olsen, a volunteer at the Rime Buddhist Center in Kansas City.

Security cameras captured the little boy dancing on top of the intricate design Tuesday while his mother was in the post office inside Union Station.

A security manager said the woman did not report the incident.

"She summarily picked the child up and boogied," said Bob Smock.

The monks are on a yearlong tour of the United States and Canada to raise money for their monastery, the newspaper said.