The Tibetan Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery

Western New Yorkers will have a rare opportunity to see traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture in action during events on Friday, July 6 through Sunday, July 8, when a touring group of Tibetan monks from the centuries-old Drepung Loseling Monastery will visit and perform. 

On Friday, the Monks will give a lecture entitled, Opening the Heart - Arousing the Mind of Universal Kindness, followed by a ceremony honoring his Holiness the Dalai Lama's Birthday. The eighth century Indian master Shantideva said, “The mind of universal kindness is like the magical elixir that turns base metals into gold. It transforms an ordinary person into one on the path of growth and happiness.” Love and kindness are mental archetypes that all beings possess. The more we strengthen them, the more beneficial we become to others and ourselves. Buddhism presents numerous contemplative techniques for intensifying and enhancing these archetypes, until they achieve full maturity and universality. After Friday's events there will be an informal Meet and Greet with the Monks in which time attendees can view and purchase their wares.

 

On Saturday, the Monks with give a lecture entitled the Psychology of Enlightenment from 6 - 7 p.m., followed by a SANG-SOL - Smoke or Incense Offering Ceremony from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Smoke Offering or Incense Offering (Sang-Sol) is a traditional Tibetan national custom performed while hanging colorful prayer flags to mark happy occasions of religious and secular nature such as on the New Year (Losar), birthday of the Dalai Lama, or at the beginning of a celebration for a religious or secular festival of national importance or picnic. 

 

For Saturday's Events, click here

Throughout this consecration monks invoke assembly of enlightened beings, call for their blessings and then transfer their blessings to the target home, family, property, business, community, society, nation, natural resources, as well to statues, paintings and resources.

At the end of the ceremony, the merits accumulated through the activities are dedicated toward the benefit of the benefactors and all living beings. It is then concluded by chanting lines of text for auspiciousness and prosperity.

Approximate length: 10 - 15 minutes

Requirements: Candles, incense, fruits, flowers and water

 

Throughout this ritual an assembly of enlightened beings are invoked with intense concentration and meditation. They are then offered an elaborate ablution ceremony in order to purify our own body, mind and speech from all impurities. Bringing their meditation and prayers to the highest level of experience from within the sphere of the bliss and voidness, the monks perform an extended ceremony through chanting, meditation, and recitation of mantra synchronizing it with the sounds of various musical instructions.

These extended blessings may be offered for private or public house, property, business, estate, natural resources as well to the shrine rooms, temples and so on. At the end, the merits collected are immersed and transferred to these entities. If need be, at the request of the benefactors the monks could also offer a ceremonial walk through procession and perform blessings while chanting and sprinkling the blessed water to the surroundings. The ceremony concludes with dedication prayers sung in unison for the well-being of all sentient beings.

Approximate length: 45 minutes

Requirements: Candles, incense, fruits, flowers, rice, milk and water

Suggested Love Offering - $500 - $1500