The Tibetan Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery are returning Sept. 2 through Sept. 7, to the Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center to share Tibetan Buddhist culture and practices while promoting peace and compassion.
This six-day visit is part of a national tour organized by the U.S.-based Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion, which raises funds to support the 2,000 monks living and studying at Drepung Gomang Monastery in Karnataka State, South India.
Throughout the week, visitors are invited to observe the monks creating an intricate sand mandala. The mandala will begin each day with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. and close with a tea puja at 5:45 p.m.
The theme of this year’s mandala is compassion.
On Sunday, Sept. 7, at 12:30 p.m., the monks will hold the dissolution ceremony, sweeping the mandala away and carrying the sand to the Contoocook river to symbolically spread its blessings throughout the world.
“As part of the ceremony, the monks will also put sand from the mandala in little bottles to give away to people as a blessing; it is part of their custom,” said Miriam Carter, executive director of Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center.
When not working on the mandala, the monks are available to offer private on-site or off-site pujas and house or business blessings. For more information, go to info@mariposamuseum.org
To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-tibetan-monks-of-drepung-gomang-monastery-tickets-1617355546979?aff=oddtdtcreator.
For information about the Drepung Gomang Monastery, go to www.DrepungGomang.org.