As the crisp autumn air settles over Sacramento, an extraordinary cultural event is about to unfold. This October, the sacred Tibetan Buddhist arts will take center stage as Geshe Tsewang Dorje and his fellow monks from the Ngari Institute bring their Compassion and Medicine Buddha Mandala tours to the city.
These deeply meaningful events offer the community a rare opportunity to experience the ancient traditions of Tibetan culture up close. From the intricate sand mandalas to the mesmerizing chants and rituals, visitors will be immersed in a transformative journey that promotes harmony, peace, and compassion for all beings.
Honoring Ancient Traditions, Cultivating Modern Connections
The Ngari Institute’s Great Compassion Sand Mandala Tour is a fundraiser to support disadvantaged children in Ladakh, India, where the institute is based. Geshe Tsewang Dorje, a respected scholar-monk, will lead the creation of the Compassion Buddha Mandala at the Spiritual Life Center from October 16-19. This will be followed by the Medicine Buddha Mandala at the Lion’s Roar Dharma Center from October 24-27.
“These events offer an opportunity to experience Tibetan Buddhist sacred arts, deepen interfaith connections, and explore the mystical energy of the sand mandala creation,” explains Patty, the public relations coordinator at Lion’s Roar Dharma Center. “It’s a chance for the community to come together and learn about this rich cultural heritage.”
The mandalas, intricate designs made from millions of grains of vividly colored sand, are painstakingly constructed by the monks over several days. Visitors can observe this mesmerizing process, which is said to cultivate peace, harmony, and healing.
“Watching a mandala evolve is in the category of ‘Live Art,’ but it is not a show,” shares Suzanne Bauer, who had the opportunity to host Tibetan monks in her home. “It is a meditative experience.”
At the end of the mandala creation, the monks will conduct a powerful closing ceremony where the sacred sand is swept away and offered as a blessing for all beings. This dramatic metaphor is designed to demonstrate the impermanent nature of all things, a fundamental tenet of Tibetan Buddhism.
Connecting with Compassion and Wisdom
Beyond the mandala creation, the visiting monks will share their rich cultural heritage through teachings, rituals, and personal interactions. Geshe Tsewang Dorje, who is also a Doctor of Tibetan Medicine, will be available for private consultations, offering his expertise in the ancient healing arts.
“Geshe Tsewang is a Geshe, which is an academic title equivalent to a Ph.D. in Buddhist Philosophy,” explains Suzanne. “During my consultation, he perfectly described my health status and prescribed various herbal remedies using the sophisticated Tibetan diagnostic method of pulse reading.”
The monks will also lead daily chanting sessions, known as pujas, which combine prayer, music, and visualization. These sessions offer a glimpse into the meditative practices that are central to Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
“The monks literally smiled all the time and laughed often,” Suzanne recounts. “Happiness is contagious. The monks were relaxed and informal, and made themselves at home. They spent a lot of time outside and could be found playing pickup basketball in the driveway or walking in the neighborhood.”
This approachable and welcoming nature of the monks left a lasting impression on Suzanne and her family, who found themselves smiling and laughing much more than usual during the monks’ stay. The experience was a powerful reminder of the transformative power of cultural exchange and the universal language of compassion.
Fostering Interfaith Understanding and Community Wellbeing
The Ngari Institute’s events in Sacramento are not just about showcasing Tibetan culture; they also serve as a platform for deepening interfaith connections and promoting community wellbeing.
“Spiritual Life Center is a loving, vibrant family that welcomes home all people and accepts everyone — no exceptions,” shares the center’s website. “Weaving ancient spiritual traditions with emerging wisdom, we cultivate a spiritual deepening with The Divine, each other, and the planet.”
By hosting the Tibetan Buddhist mandala creation and rituals, Spiritual Life Center and Lion’s Roar Dharma Center are inviting the community to engage with diverse spiritual traditions and find common ground in the universal values of compassion, wisdom, and interconnectedness.
“Following His Holiness’s example, we are committed to a traditional Buddhist practice, and we promote His Holiness’s vision of maintaining the lineage while being open and non-sectarian in our outreach and honoring all dharma paths,” explains the Lion’s Roar Dharma Center website.
This inclusive approach aligns with the Ngari Institute’s mission to preserve and disseminate Tibetan Buddhist teachings while fulfilling His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision of a modern education for future generations. By sharing their sacred arts and practices, the visiting monks aim to foster greater understanding, harmony, and compassion within the Sacramento community.
Cultivating Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
The Ngari Institute’s events also serve as a platform for promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. As the monks create the intricate sand mandalas, they are not only sharing their cultural heritage but also conveying the profound Buddhist teachings on impermanence and the interconnectedness of all life.
“The finished mandala is composed of three-dimensional layers. It is extremely complex and delicate,” Suzanne describes. “Watching a mandala evolve is in the category of ‘Live Art,’ but it is not a show. It is a meditative experience.”
At the end of the mandala creation, the monks will sweep the sand away, a dramatic metaphor designed to demonstrate the impermanent nature of all things. This ritual is a powerful reminder that attachment to material possessions and temporary phenomena is the root of suffering, according to Buddhist philosophy.
The monks will then proceed to a nearby body of water, such as the Pacific Ocean, to cast the remaining sand into the waves. This act symbolizes the dispersal of the mandala’s blessings and the interconnectedness of all beings, as the sand ultimately becomes one with the vast, flowing waters.
“As the sand joined the water, we were reminded that all beings benefit when kindness and compassion are dispersed into the world,” Suzanne shares, recounting her experience of scattering mandala sand at the Grand Canyon.
Through these powerful rituals and teachings, the Ngari Institute’s events in Sacramento not only celebrate Tibetan culture but also promote a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and the cultivation of compassion for all living beings.
Embracing the Unexpected and Cultivating Connections
As the Tibetan Buddhist monks arrive in Sacramento, they bring with them a unique opportunity for the community to engage with a rich cultural heritage and explore the universal values of compassion, wisdom, and interconnectedness.
Whether it’s witnessing the intricate sand mandala creation, participating in the closing ceremonies, or engaging in personal consultations with the learned Geshe Tsewang Dorje, these events promise to be transformative and deeply meaningful experiences.
As Suzanne Bauer reflects on her unexpected encounter with Tibetan monks, she shares an important insight: “Attachment drains energy; Connection boosts energy.” By embracing the unexpected and cultivating connections with the visiting monks, the Sacramento community can tap into the boundless well of healing, joy, and spiritual enrichment that these sacred cultural celebrations have to offer.
So, as the autumn winds whisper through the city, the people of Sacramento are invited to open their hearts and minds to the profound teachings and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. In doing so, they may just find themselves smiling and laughing a little more, and leaving with a renewed sense of wonder, compassion, and connection to the world around them.
