Tibetan monks return to Auburn

Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery will open their 2023 visit to General Gomez Arts in Auburn on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. with a short interfaith welcome by members of the religious community, followed by the monks' opening ritual ceremony to purify the location and begin 10 days of events. The anticipated visit will provide a variety of Tibetan cultural presentations for 10 days, giving area residents and visitors a chance to experience firsthand the unique culture of the Tibetan people and the rich traditions of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. This will include the creation of a beautiful sand mandala, carefully constructed over the course of their visit, following ancient Buddhist symbolic designs. Each grain of sand will be carefully laid down by hand using techniques unchanged for millennia. The public can observe and enjoy this moving and meditative process as the monks work. Attend throughout the 10-day visit to fully experience the ever-changing work. General Gomez Arts will be open daily for mandala viewing from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., except during events. Check online for the complete schedule of events. When the mandala is finished, there will be a special ritual to bless the mandala and mark its completion. Following the blessing, the mandala will be ritually dissolved (always a standing-room-only event), highlighting by example the Buddhist view of impermanence. The sand is then swept into a pile with small portions of the sand being offered as gifts to members of the audience. The following day, the remaining sand is taken to a body of water where, after a short ceremony, it will be poured into the water as a blessing to purify the environment and all the beings that inhabit it. TIBETAN MONKS When/where: Feb. 16-26 at General Gomez Arts, 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn. Welcoming ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Feb. 16; daily events begin at 10 a.m. and include sand mandala viewing, empowerments, group healings, teachings, public lectures and family events. Information: For volunteer opportunities, meal sponsorship or individual land, home and business blessings, please call Jesse at 916-834-8299, email auburntibetanevents@yahoo.com or inquire at the venue. Cost: By donation. Suggested donations vary by event.