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Tibetan Buddhist Monks Are Back in Coral Springs: Schedule of Events

Tibetan Monks constructing the Sand Mandala in Coral Springs in 2016. Photo by Adam Baron.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The Tibetan Buddhist monks return to The Coral Springs Museum of Art for The Sacred Art Tour for a six-day event full of culture, teachings and artistic expression.

Eight monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery, students of H.H. Dalai Lama, will visit the Coral Springs Museum of Art Tuesday, June 5 – Sunday June 10, to spread the monks’ message of peace, loving kindness, wisdom, and compassion while sharing their traditional Tibetan arts and culture. Funds raised from this event support their monastery in southern India.

The Drepung Gomang monks travel worldwide to share their art and culture through the Sacred Art Tour. This tour promotes Tibetan culture and supports their monastery in India and funds raised through this tour supplement housing, meals, and educational materials for anyone wishing to study at this monastic center of higher learning including orphans and refugees fleeing occupied Tibet.

Residents can experience ancient Tibetan cultural rituals of dance, sacred chants and prayer as well as the renowned sand mandala construction and deconstruction ceremony.

Here is a listing of all the events and times so you can share in the experience.

Events

Opening Ceremony Experience a symbolic walk through our peace garden and into the Museum’s main gallery led by the monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery. The monks will perform a blessing of the space with chanting and traditional instruments. Once completed, they will begin marking and measuring the mandala. Tuesday, June 5, 10 a.m.

Working carefully on the Sand Mandala. Photo by Adam Baron.

Mandala Construction: The monks will create a sand mandala for the Buddha of compassion: Chenrezig. The purpose of the construction of this mandala is to encourage every one of us to generate a compassionate heart for the benefit of all sentient beings. Daily, 10 a.m. – closing

Meditation and Dharma Hour: Spend time alongside the monks and the mandala in silent meditation, then soak in the wisdom of a dharma talk where you will learn about the universal truth that all monks live by. Tuesday – Friday – noon.

Mani Stone Workshop: Under the guidance of the monks, you will paint your own prayer stone: known as a mani doh, or mani stone. These prayer stones are a physical representation of positive conditions such as long life, health and success. Tuesday, 4 p.m. & Friday, 2 p.m.

Butter Sculpture: Traditionally, Tibetan monks created elaborate sculptures of plants and animals inspired by stories of Buddha using butter from yak milk. Under the instruction of the monks, you will learn how to create beautiful, colorful flowers using non-toxic Play-Doh … much cleaner and easier to work with than yak butter. Wednesday, 2:30 p.m. & Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

Cultural Pageant Spectacular: Experience fascinating ancient Tibetan cultural traditions such as monastic debate, chants, Tibetan musical instruments and rituals of dance including the snow lion dance, yak dance and good luck dance. Saturday, 1 p.m.

Dissolution Ceremony: An unforgettable experience! After spending countless hours laying millions of grains of sand into an intricate mandala, the monks will destroy it, sweeping the grains together in a sacred ceremony. After the dissolution, the blessed sand will be distributed among the attendees. The remaining sand will be poured into the water behind the Museum so the blessings will be carried with the flowing water. Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Dinner: Don’t miss this once in a lifetime cultural culinary experience. Observe the preparation of an authentic, traditional Tibetan meal and share it with the monks of the Drepung Gomang Monestary. Momos (dumplings) are a treat you won’t soon forget! Lunch – Wednesday 12:30 p.m. Dinner – Friday 7:00 p.m. & Saturday, 7:00 p.m.

Schedule

Tuesday, June 5
10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony
10:30 a.m. Mapping of Mandala
12:00 p.m. Meditation and Dharma Hour
4:00 p.m. Mani Stone Workshop
5:30 p.m. Evening Chanting

Wednesday, June 6
10:00 a.m. Morning Chanting & Mandala
12:00 p.m. Meditation and Dharma Hour
12:30 p.m. Tibetan Lunch prepared with the Monks
2:30 p.m. Tibetan Butter Sculpture Workshop
5:30 p.m. Evening Chanting

Thursday, June 7
10:00 a.m. Morning Chanting & Mandala
12:00 p.m. Meditation and Dharma Hour
5:30 p.m. Evening Chanting
7:00 p.m. Celebration of Community

Friday, June 8
10:00 a.m. Morning Chanting & Mandala
12:00 p.m. Meditation and Dharma Hour
4:00 p.m. Mani Stone Workshop
5:30 p.m. Evening Chanting
7:00 p.m. Authentic Tibetan Cooking and Dinner

Saturday, June 9
10:00 a.m. Morning Chanting & Mandala
1:00 p.m. Tibetan Cultural Pageant Spectacular
3:00 p.m. Butter Sculpture Workshop
5:30 p.m. Evening Chanting
7:00 p.m. Catered Farewell Dinner for the Monks

Sunday, June 10
10:00 a.m. Morning Chanting & Mandala
11:00 a.m. Mani Stone Workshop
1:00 p.m. Dissolution Ceremony

Hours

Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Adults 18+: $6
Seniors 65+: $5
Children Ages 6 – 17: $3
Children Ages 5 & Younger: Free
College Students with ID: $3
Museum Members: FREE
Military with ID: FREE

Workshops General: $15
Member: $10
Children: $5
includes admission (limited to 20 guests pre-registration required)

Culinary experiences must be purchased in advance.
Lunch: $25
Dinner: $50

The Coral Springs Museum of Art is located at 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Suite A Coral Springs, FL 33065 954-340-5000.

Author Profile

Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.