Let's Bring the Tibetan Monks to Peterborough
Our pledge to the monks in support of Drepung Gomang Monastery.
For 15 years, the Mariposa hosted annual visits by Tibetan Monks touring to share understanding of their ancient culture, raise funds for monasteries educating monks in India to preserve Tibetan Buddhist practice in the wake of the Chinese invasion of Tibet, and to create beautiful sand mandalas inviting peace, compassion, and healing into our world. The pandemic interrupted these tours, but the monks on the Sacred Arts of Tibet tour supporting Drepung Gomang Monastery, are returning this Oct. 17-21.
Their visit to Peterborough is the result of a cancellation in the otherwise fully-booked tour, leaving us with only a very brief window in which to raise funds to meet our $4,000 pledge to them. We took the leap! We now invite others who value the monks' visit to our community to make a financial gift to them to help us meet our commitment.
During their stay, the monks will create a colorful sand mandala for peace each day, Oct. 17 - 20, from 11 a.m. to 5:45, with a tea puja from 5:45 to 6 p.m. Ticket sales to the museum will also help us to meet our pledge. Adults are $10/day or $25/open pass for 5 days; Children are $6/day or $15/open pass for the week. On Saturday, the mandala will be on view, with a closing ceremony starting at 2 p.m., during which time the mandala will be dismantled and taken, in procession, to the river.
A cultural pageant is also planned for Thursday, Oct. 19th at 6:30 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, across the street from the Mariposa Museum on Main Street in Peterborough! Please visit our website for more information: www.mariposamuseum.org.
Thank you for your support of this beautiful tradition in Peterborough and India!