WEEK OF NOV. 27 – DEC. 3
Sand Mandala Event at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living,
1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas, Ca 92024.
Information about the Monastery and the monks tour:
http://www.sacredartsoftibettour.org
The monks will construct a Sacred Sand Mandala for the Buddha of Loving-Kindness, Maitreya. The Sand Mandala is said to be a symbolic representation of the universe that is created and destroyed as a reminder of the impermanence of all things. This teaches us the importance of living in the present moment and not getting attached to material possessions
Daily viewing (Mon.- Thurs. from 10am – 5:00 pm, Thurs. 10 – 3 pm, Saturday – all day and Sunday until 12:30 There is a suggested donation listed for some of the events. However, no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
SAND MANDALAS
Mandala means literally “that which extracts the essence.” There are many different types of mandalas used by Tibetan Buddhists. They can be created in either two or three dimensions. The ones on the monks’ tour will be two‑dimensional sand mandalas. These are without doubt the most creative, labor‑intensive, and concentration‑intensive of all mandalas created. The ones provided on the tour will require between 75 and 125 hours of effort, completed by several monks at a time.
Each sand mandala represents the architectural layout of the entire palace of a specific deity. The Menla mandala, for example, represents the dwelling of the Medicine Buddha, who embodies the perfection of the physical and mental health of all beings. There are mufti‑layered symbolic images throughout the “palace,” where iconography, placement, and color all have significance. Additionally, to the learned Tibetan Buddhist monk, the mandala represents his vision of the entire universe.
The mandala is normally used during the initiation of a monk into a high form of meditation. This sacred initiation is referred to as an empowerment ceremony. After the initiation, it requires years or possibly an entire lifetime of intense study and meditation under an experienced Lama to expose the depth and intricacy of the universe.
In the past, sand mandalas were made with the powdered results of the grinding of precious stones, such as turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, powdered gold and silver, and many other cherished and priceless materials. Today, this is only done on very special and/or auspicious occasions. More commonly, the colors are made of powdered and dyed stone, sand, dust, flowers, and charcoal. The colors are chosen to match the color of one of the Buddhas of the five Buddha families.
The sand is applied very precisely by the gentle tapping of a sand‑filled metal cone that has had its tip removed. The Master must be the first to initiate the mandala, and does so by being the first to pour the sand.
The outline of the mandala is defined by the holding of a string that is dipped in chalk and then ‘snapped’ in the appropriate place.
Upon completion of the mandala, the monks will purposely destroy the magnificent work of art. The Buddha’s last words were “All things are impermanent, work out your salvation with diligence.” In upholding the principle that life is transient, the monks sweep up the mandala and place the sand in a river, lake, or ocean as an offering to purify the surrounding environment.
All sand mandala takes 4-6 days to complete. Under certain circumstances a shorter version may be offered.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27: 5:00 – 6:30 pm
9:00 am: The Monks will be in the sanctuary to set up the mandala table. As per Linda’s request, they will set up their Buddhist Arts and Crafts market in the back of the sanctuary.
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Opening ceremony with prayers and a short talk about the mandala.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28:
2:00 – 4:00 pm: Teaching: “Gratitude for Impermanence” with Q&A
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Interfaith Panel with Rev. Christian, Wayne Dorsick of Elijah Minyan, and Geshela Chodak and his translator, Geshela Lekshey. Topic: Loving-Kindness. Ellen Speert will be the moderator for this event. Cantor Kathy Robbins will start the evening with a song, and the monks will end with a traditional Buddhist Blessing with their instruments.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29:
12:30 – 2:00: Lunch with Q & A: An informal opportunity for the community to ask the monks or (Rev. Christian if available) questions they may have from the Interfaith Panel or the teaching on Impermanence. The community is invited to bring their own lunch or order a sandwich from Jersey Mikes. A signup sheet will be available Tuesday night for those in the community who would like to come for lunch and/or order from Jersey Mikes.
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Vajravidarin Group Healing Ritual of Purification: purification and removing negativities; removing subtle negative imprints; and offering protection. $20
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30:
9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Four of the tour monks will be in Vista at CommuniTea Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center for private healings. Two mandala masters’ will be at Seaside Center to work on the mandala and oversee their arts and craft’s market. Jeff and Suzen will also be there.
5:00 – 6:30 pm: Slideshow, “A Day in the Life of a Monk” with Q&A
FRIDAY, DEC. 1
12:00 – 2:30: The monks will lead a guided meditation on Loving-Kindness and Compassion. Afterwards, there will be a short talk on the sand mandala followed by lunch. This coincides with a fundraiser for the mandala: “A Day of Mindfulness” hosted by Art Therapist, Ellen Speert and Buddhist student, Christie Turner. (NOTE: The retreat is open to the public for $25. There is space available, and reservations are required.) This event is sponsored by the California Center for Creative Renewal. For reservations call Suzen (760) 815-2229
6:00-8:30pm — 21 Taras Empowerment $40 Please bring cash for your donations, or use Zelle: www:communiteayoga.org
**************************The following events AT SEASIDE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING
SATURDAY, DEC. 2
10:00 am: This event is an open house to view the sand mandala and participate in traditional Tibetan activities. There will be a hands-on experience using the sand mandala tools, butter sculpture and Tibetan calligraphy. (Family Room)
11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Panel on Climate Change. The panel will the explore the important role that plants, animals and humans play in having a healthy environment. (Sanctuary)
2:00 – 2:30 pm: The monks will demonstrate the dialectical debate used in their monastery to develop critical thinking skills. In this debate, there will be a challenger from the Climate Change Panel who will respectfully challenge the monks to further understand the implications of climate change from the Buddhist Perspective. (Sanctuary)
4:00 – 6:00 pm: Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya. Buddha Maitreya is the embodiment of loving-kindness of all the Buddhas. When we have a strong loving mind, our whole experience of the world changes. Others feel this change and respond to it. In this sense, love has the power to transform our world, $20 (Sanctuary)
6:30 – 8:00 pm: “A Mandala Sanctuary Celebration of Divine Sound, Peace, and Generosity.” Kirtan and devotional singing with Sharon Kumuda Janis, and a showing of her documentary, “Peace Pilgrim: An American Sage Who Walked Her Talk,” with a short discussion about Peace Pilgrim’s timeless wisdom in today’s world. The monks will end the evening with a Tibetan Buddhist Blessing utilizing their traditional instruments. Donations appreciated. (Family Room and Sanctuary)
SUNDAY, DEC. 3
12:00 pm: Closing Ceremony for the Sand Mandala. Come early for Seaside’s service at 9:00 or 11:00 am with Rev. Christian Sorensen. Enjoy fellowship and see the sand mandala one final time before it is swept up in ceremony. The monks will offer small bags of mandala sand to everyone. Immediately following the ceremony, the community is invited to go with the monks to Moonlight Beach to disperse the sand as a blessing for world peace.
Empowerment
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm — Seaside Center of Spiritual Living 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
$20 Donation appreciated Buddha Maitreya is the embodiment of loving–kindness of all the Buddhas. When we have a strong
loving mind, our whole experience of the world changes. Others feel this change and respond to it. In this sense, love has the power to
transform our world.
To schedule a personal/house/business, call Suzen: (760) 815-2229. To donate to the monastery, please send your donations to Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling Monastery, 3500 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814. Donations are tax deductible and must be paid to the order of Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation which is a 501 © (3) nonprofit organization that are subject to audit by the US Internal Revenue Service.
The funds raised on the tour supports the daily needs of over 1700 monks living in Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery, Southern India and attending their university.
