Gualala Arts Global Harmony Series presents:
Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala

     Tuesday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
at the Gualala Arts Center

The Gualala Arts Global Harmony Series will host a Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala for two days on Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 18, 2011. This auspicious occasion will feature the Gaden Shartse monks, whom many of you may remember from previous visits to the community.

This sand mandala will be started at 9:00 a.m. and go until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the mandala will be completed in the afternoon and will be "swept" in a ceremony of "dissolution" at 4:00 p.m., signifying the concept of impermanence. After the sweep, Friends of the Gualala River will lead a walk to the river for a short ceremony to bless the river's watershed. Several local schools will also be sending students to see the sand mandala being created.

This is a free event with goodwill donations gladly accepted.

Gaden Shartse Tibetan Buddhist Monk Schedule Sunday, May 15 10:30 a.m. Ecumenical / Interfaith Service of Peace           St. Paul's Community United Methodist Church 12:00 p.m. Lunch   1:00 p.m. Peace Pole Blessing 3:00 p.m. Pt. Arena downtown business blessing walk                 Surf Therapy Yoga 4:00 p.m. Tea 4:30 p.m. Group Healing Ceremony Monday May 16 8:30 a.m. Art and Music                 Pacific Community Schools Tuesday, May 17 9:00 a.m. Mandala in Gualala                 Gualala Arts Center 7:00 p.m. Green Tara Empowerment Ceremony                 Gualala Arts Center Wednesday, May 18 9:00 a.m. Mandala in Gualala                 Gualala Arts Center 4:00 p.m. Blessing of the River

Eight Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in Southern India will return to our coastal communities on May 15 through May 18. This will be the fourth visit from these ambassadors of compassion, wisdom, and the healing arts. The monks will have a packed few days to spend in Point Arena and Gualala as they criss-cross the country sharing their knowledge of ancient Tibet while working toward keeping Tibetan culture alive for the world.

The monks are from one of three Tibetan refugee resettlement communities which were set up in India to accept refugees who were fleeing Tibet after the Chinese invasion of 1959, where over one million Tibetans were killed. Hundreds of monasteries were destroyed, including the original Gaden Shartse monastery. The monastery has now been recreated in India, and over sixteen hundred monks and nuns work and study there restoring ancient manuscripts, seeking advanced degrees, and hosting multiple festivals, seminars, and intermonastic philosophical meetings throughout the year.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama created these tours some twenty years ago and they have continued throughout Europe and the U.S. to support the government-in-exile as well as to provide much-needed funds to operate the monastery. With support donations a new temple has been built and an expanded medical facility has also been completed, which is now open to the surrounding villagers. Contributions are tax-deductible through the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation based in Long Beach.

Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala

Gualala Arts Center
May, 2011

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The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gualala Arts, 1961 - 2011

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.