Oregon Coast Today
Tibetan monks from Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India have been on tour for over a year and are due to return to Newport from Saturday 8th June to Saturday 15th June.
The week-long visit will feature a variety of fun, enlightening and interactive public events, including ceremonies, talks, workshops, pet blessings and monk-led charity dinners. The monks will be offering private consultations, blessings and healings throughout the busy week. Most events will be held at the Samaritan Health Education Center.
The Lincoln County Friends of Tibet has helped bring monks to the Oregon Coast annually for the past several years.
Gaden Shartse monks will begin their visit on Saturday with a colorful “Ched Dolor” ceremony in which participants are wrapped in wool, an ancient ritual whose purpose is to remove internal and external obstacles.
This will continue on Saturday at the Newport Public Library with a Butter Sculpting and Sand Mandala Workshop for all ages, an opportunity to mix butter and flour to create small statues called “tormas” using ancient tools used by monks to create sacred sand mandalas.
On Saturday evening, the tour’s lead monk, Geshe Champa Choedak, will give a talk titled “Cultivating Compassion in Challenging Times,” examining what Tibetan Buddhist teachings can offer to help us deal with the turbulent state of the world and the practice of open-mindedness in times of conflict and change — a topic that is all too familiar to Tibetans, who have been exiled from their Himalayan home for nearly 65 years.
On Sunday morning, the monks perform a special outdoor prayer ceremony called the Smoke Offering, or Tsang Tsor, a special ceremony that is rarely performed on this tour. The ceremony is to protect the earth, sky, and water. This special ceremony takes place in a private location with restricted access, so anyone who wants to participate must register in advance.
On Sunday afternoons and Thursdays, the monks hold introductory classes in Tibetan Buddhist meditation. You can attend either or both classes. “Geshe” is the highest title in Tibetan monastic universities. It takes more than 18 years of study to be fully recognized as a Geshe; three of the monks on this tour hold this degree.
Sunday evening sees the Vajrasattva Initiation ceremony, a Tibetan Buddhist ritual believed to purify the body, speech and mind of all evil deeds and which is central to most Tibetan healing ceremonies. The ritual involves chanting, mudras (hand gestures) and the use of various ritual objects.
On Monday night there will be a talk on Tibetan astrology, which is quite different from Western astrology and is not simply about prediction but focuses on guiding people towards more altruistic and compassionate lives.
On Tuesday afternoon, the monks will hold a pet blessing ceremony in the parking lot of Atonement Lutheran Church. The monks will hold a general blessing ceremony with the Geshe offering a short prayer and blessing for each individual pet. All animals should be brought on a leash or in a protective carrier. Photos of living and deceased pets may also be brought for the Geshe’s blessing.
On Wednesday, monks will host an evening of “Sounds of Tibet: Traditional Chanting, Music and Golden Nectar Offerings,” showcasing rare and mystical sounds and instruments from high in Tibet’s Himalayas.
On Thursday, the Geshe will give a lecture titled “Aging Without Regret: Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition.”
That evening Geshe will also give a talk entitled “Exploring Tibetan Tantra – The Tibetan Path to Buddhahood”. Tantra is at the heart of Tibetan Buddhist practice and there are many misunderstandings about it in the West. In Tibetan Buddhism, “Tantra” refers to the realization that there is no separation between “samsara” (the daily wheel of suffering we experience) and “nirvana” (freedom from suffering).
Friday night is the White Tara Longevity Empowerment. White Tara is said to be an incarnation of Chenrezi, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, born from tears of compassion. She is believed to bestow good health, longevity, and healing of internal and external wounds.
To conclude the week of activities, on Saturday the monks will prepare a special “Monks and Momo Charity Dinner” at Atonement Lutheran Church. The meal will feature monk-made momos, delicious stuffed dumplings with veggie and meat options, and simple sides. Tickets for the event must be reserved and paid for in advance.
During their stay, the monks will also offer private Tibetan astrology readings, individual and group healing, as well as blessings for individuals, land, homes and businesses.
All events are donation-based with a suggested amount set for each event. All funds raised will go directly to the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation, a non-profit charity that supports housing for monks in Tibetan refugee areas in Southern India.
For more information or a complete schedule, visit SacredArtsofTibetTour.org or call 530-748-9365.
Saturday, June 8
- 10:00am: Ched Dolor Ceremony, Samaritan Health Education Center
- 2:00 PM: Butter Sculpting and Sand Mandala Workshop, Newport Public Library
- 6 p.m.: “Cultivating Compassion in Challenging Times,” presentation, Samaritan Health Education Center
Sunday, June 9
- 2:00 PM: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Class, Samaritan Health Education Center
- 6:00 pm: Vajrasattva Empowerment Ceremony, Samaritan Health Education Center
Monday, June 10
- 6pm: Tibetan Astrology Lecture, Samaritan Health Education Centre
Tuesday, June 11
- 4-6 p.m.: Blessing of Pets, Atonement Lutheran Church
Wednesday, June 12
- 6 p.m.: “Sounds of Tibet: Traditional Chanting, Music and Golden Nectar Offerings,” Samaritan Health Education Center
Thursday, June 13
- 10am: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Class, Samaritan Health Education Center
- 2 p.m.: “Aging Without Regrets: Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition,” lecture, Samaritan Health Education Center
- 6 p.m.: “Exploring Tibetan Tantra – The Tibetan Path to Buddhahood” Lecture, Samaritan Health Education Center
Friday, June 14
- 6pm: Longevity White Tara Empowerment, Samaritan Health Education Center
Saturday, June 15
- 6-8 p.m.: Monks and Momo Charity Dinner, Atonement Lutheran Church
