REGION — A group of Tibetan Buddhist monks will return to North County at the end of August to share their message for finding peace and joy during uncertain times.
The five monks along with their tour coordinator have been traveling between California and Nebraska for nearly two years to stress the importance of interfaith dialogue while offering healings and other activities that bring people together as part of the Sacred Arts of Tibet Tours.
Before returning home, the monks will offer private healings as well as blessings for houses, businesses and land plus other events as part of a fundraising effort that will benefit their monastery, where more than 1,500 monks live.
Gaden Shartse Monastery is the original Buddhist Mmonastery of the Gelug Tradition of Tibet, the same lineage or tradition as the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso.
According to Buddhist tradition, the monastery was prophesied by the Buddha 1,900 years ago before its actual establishment in 1409 C.E. The monastery was housed on a large hillside about 30 miles east of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, with a population of 5,000 monks.
The original monastery was destroyed in 1959 but was subsequently re-established by 48 surviving monks. The India Government generously donated land for a Tibetan refugee settlement, including Gaden Monastery.
Today, the monastery and its monastic college are supported by the tours.
The events will take place in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Vista from Aug. 25 to 31 and are listed below. To schedule a private blessing or healing ritual, call 760-815-2229.
Sunday, Aug. 25:
2 to 5 p.m. – Tea Ceremony and Deep Chant
Location: Ananda Encinitas and The Temple of Joy, 946 Hermes Ave. in Encinitas
Suggested donation: $25
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegetarian-potluck-slideshow-traditional-tibetan-buddhist-tea-ceremony-tickets-991481135767
Spend an afternoon with the monks as they kick off their final tour in North County. Bring a vegan dish as part of a potluck with the community. Afterwards, learn about the monk’s 18-month tour through a slideshow presentation.
Monday, Aug. 26
6 to 8:30 p.m. – Nepalese Dinner and Sound Meditation
Location: Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive in Encinitas
Suggested donation: $25
RSVP: http://bishwaseva.org
Join the monks for an evening of Nepalese food and music with Bishwa Seva Foundation’s final Deep Sound Meditation of their summer series. All donation proceeds benefit the Bishwa Seva Foundation to raise money for underprivileged children in Nepal.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
6 to 7:30 p.m. – Dharma Talk: “Finding Peace and Joy in Uncertain Times”
Location: Private residence/temple in Leucadia, 435 Orpheus Ave.
Suggested donation: $20
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/993738307027
Learn skills to cope and thrive during difficult times. Immerse in the quiet energy of the temple and find solace being with other like-minded souls. There will be a question-and-answer session following the talk.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
4 to 8 p.m. – An Evening at the Beach with Tibetan Buddhist Monks
Location: Cardiff State Beach- Reef, 1 mile south of Cardiff on Old Highway 101 next to Pacific Coast Grill
Suggested donation: $20
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/987229208137
Join in beach games and sandcastle building with the monks, who will also offer pet healings and lead attendees in a guided sunset meditation. Bring a vegan dish, wear comfortable attire and/or beach gear, and a leashed dog for a healing.
Thursday, Aug. 29
1 to 4 p.m. – Vajravidarin Private Healing Ritual
Location: CommuniTea Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center, 2242 Alta Vista Drive in Vista
Suggested donation: $75
RSVP: www.communiteayoga.com or call 760-499-0066
The Vajravidarin Healing Ritual is a ritual of purification and has three stages: purification and removing of negativities, removing subtle negative imprints, and offering protection. The vajra master takes the form of this Buddha of Purification and uses his power to cleanse participants from sickness, and other factors against a congenial life. After removing subtle, negative imprints, the vajra master instructs participants through visualization and ritual and then takes the negative subtle imprints and transforms them into “Inexhaustible Bliss.”
5 to 7:30 p.m. – Vegetarian potluck with slideshow and tea ceremony
Suggested donation: $20
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegetarian-potluck-slideshow-traditional-tibetan-buddhist-tea-ceremony-tickets-993757002947
Stick around the retreat center for a vegetarian potluck. Bring a dish to share. Following dinner, there will be an interactive slide show of the monk’s monastery and some of their adventures on the road this year with questions and answers. The evening will end with the traditional Tibetan Buddhist Tea Ceremony.
Friday, Aug. 30
1 to 3 p.m. – Interfaith Panel Discussion on “Death, Bardo, and Rebirth”
Location: Solana Beach Condo Clubhouse, 645 East Solana Circle, Solana Beach
Suggested donation: $20
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interfaith-panel-discussion-on-death-bardo-and-rebirth-tickets-987202207377
Native American Elder and Chief Lee Plentywolf from the Oglala Nation, one of the seven tribes of the Sioux Lakota Nation, will join the monks for a profound interfaith discussion. Together, they will offer a unique opportunity to explore diverse perspectives on life, death, and what lies beyond.
6 to 7:30 p.m. – Chay Drol Healing Ritual
Location: CommuniTea Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center
Suggested donation: $20
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tibetan-buddhist-monks-chay-drol-healing-ritual-tickets-993773512327
In Tibetan, “Chay Drol” means “to make free of obstacles.” In this ritual, obstacles will be removed that hold us back in life. The ritual involves active audience participation. During the ceremony, rainbow-colored yarn, symbolizing negative patterns and blockages, is loosely wrapped around the group. The yarn is then cut, symbolically severing these obstacles and freeing participants from the limitations that hinder their growth and well-being.
Saturday, Aug. 31
2 to 5 p.m. – Farewell Party with Khangso Music Ritual and Vajravidarin Group Healing Ritual
Location: Private Residence, 3247 Circa de Tierra in Encinitas
Suggested donation $35
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farewell-party-khangso-music-ritual-and-vajravidarin-group-healing-ritual-tickets-993789249397
Say goodbye to the monks before they return to India and to honor tour coordinator Lobsang Wangchuk. Festivities begin with the group Vajravidarin Healing Ritual. Following the ritual, the healing will be sealed with the monk’s traditional Tibetan Buddhist instruments and chanting in the Khangso Ritual. Afterwards, there will be cake, chai tea and light refreshments.
