The Drepung Gomang Monks from South India are embarking on their first North American tour in five years and are coming to Temple Buddhist Center for their first stop! They will be creating a Peace Mandala out of sand, conducting a Fire Puja, and more. The monks will conduct this ceremony with special offerings for the world’s benefit.
Open & Free to the Public from August 15-20, 2023 at Temple Buddhist Center 707 W. 47th st. KCMO 64112. Use this LINK for a detailed schedule.
The monks begin every day of work on the mandala with a short (10-15 minute) prayer ceremony, setting their motivation for the day’s work. Visitors will be able watch as the monks carefully guide millions of colored grains of sand through small funnel-shaped metal tools known as the “Chakpur.” This funnel is filled with colored sand and is then rasped in order to release a fine stream of sand. The artists begin at the center of the mandala and work outward. At the close of each day’s work, they perform a short (15-20 minute) prayer ceremony, blessing and dedicating the merit of the day’s work to all sentient beings.
Join the Drepung Gomang Tibetan Monks for a very special puja/prayers for blessings, to remove obstacles, and protection from those who bring harm both to worldly life and the path of enlightenment. The monks will conduct this ceremony with chants, cymbals, drums, horns, and special offerings for the world’s benefit. The actual ceremony includes an introductory talk, after which chanting begins, the fire is started, and substances are added to the fire progressively.
Donations ($5-$10) gratefully accepted for the food, healthcare and housing of the 2000+ monks at the Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India. A Tibetan Marketplace will be open with Tibetan crafts, clothing, jewelry, and Dharma related gifts made by the Tibetan community in exile.
