Tufts University and Boston College will be welcoming the monks of Gaden Shartse Monastic College to offer a Mandala of Green Tara and a series of healing and empowerment ceremonies. (Brandeis University and Northeastern University have just completed their visits with the monks.) Each offering is designed to help illuminate the nature of mind and provide us with the courage and renewal needed to meet the challenges of a modern life.
This series, which began at Northeastern with ceremonies and a Fire Puja mandala on Tuesday, February 13- Wednesday, February 14, and then at Tufts on February 15 with a sand mandala opening ceremony, provides an open door to all who wish to deeply integrate body/mind/spirit and develop wisdom to chart the way ahead.
Highlights also include a Medicine Buddha Puja, a Vajrasattva Empowerment (associated with the purification of karma and removal of obstacles) and a Dialectic Debate on the three aspects of the path).
The Circles of Peace Mandala Project with the Gaden Shartse monastery monks will be held at A) Northeastern University: Sacred Space, Ell Hall, 346 Huntington Ave., Boston B) Tufts Interfaith Center, 58 Winthrop St., Medford MA 02155 and C) Shapiro Student Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA.
All events are open to the general public.
For more information, or to schedule an interview with the monks, contact Ji Hyang Padma, PhD, at j.padma@northeastern.edu
SCHEDULE
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Sunday, February 11: Shapiro Campus Center, BRANDEIS. Torma Butter Sculpture Demonstration. Details TBA
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
All events held at SACRED SPACE, ELL HALL, NORTHEASTERN except LOSAR.
Monday, February 12, 6 pm. LOSAR at the ASIAN AMERICAN CTR ANNEX, 405 ELL.
Losar, Tibetan New Year, is being celebrated by the Gaden Shartse Tibetan Monks with Northeastern University Buddhist Group at the AAC on Monday, February 12, at 6 pm.
The monks will commence the New Year of the Wood Dragon with this warm, chanted ceremony reminding us to be grateful for blessings overflowing – literally. Bring a wish or request for any blessing. Enjoy being enveloped in their deep, chanted tones-- and learning about this beautiful culture.
Tuesday, February 13, 10 am: Mandala Opening Ceremony
10 am- 5 pm Mandala Viewing
Tuesday, February 13, 6 pm. Medicine Buddha Empowerment Ceremony
The Medicine Buddha (Menla) is the awakened embodiment of the power of healing of all the Buddhas. Join us as we receive this empowerment which is connected with Tibetan mind-body-spirit medicine and the wisdom of an ancient lineage.
Wednesday, February 14
10 am- 4 pm Mandala Viewing
4 pm Mandala Dissolution Ceremony
Northeastern Buddhist Group thanks its generous cosponsors: the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service; the Asian Studies Department, the Philosophy and Religion Department, and the Department of Cultural and Spiritual Life.
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TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Wednesday, February 14: 7- 8:30 PM INTERFAITH CENTER, TUFTS: LOSAR CELEBRATION WITH TEA CEREMONY (DONATION REQUESTED)
Losar, Tibetan New Year, is being celebrated by the Gaden Shartse Tibetan Monks with Tufts Sangha at the Interfaith Center on Wednesday, February 14, at 7 pm.
The monks will commence the New Year of the Wood Dragon with this warm, chanted ceremony reminding us to be grateful for blessings overflowing – literally. Bring a wish or request for any blessing. Enjoy being enveloped in their deep, chanted tones-- and learning about this beautiful culture.
Thursday. February 15
12-2 INTERFAITH CENTER: Green Tara Mandala Opening Ceremony
12-5:30 INTERFAITH CENTER Mandala viewing
Friday, February 16
12-2 PM GODDARD CHAPEL: Dialectic Debate: the Three Stages of the Path
5:30- 7:30 PM INTERFAITH CENTER Mandala viewing
Saturday, February 17
10- 5:30 INTERFAITH CENTER: Mandala viewing
Monday, February 19
10- 5:30 INTERFAITH CENTER: Mandala viewing
8 PM INTERFAITH CENTER: Vajrasattva Empowerment Ceremony
The Gaden Shartse monks will facilitate a special Vajrasattva (Buddha of Purification) empowerment ceremony. Vajrasattva is the Buddhist deity of Purification. The practice of the Vajrasattva deity purifies all negative actions committed by our body, through our speech, and in our minds. All that has been contaminated through our own negativities will be cleansed, and we will be able to begin afresh. The Vajrasattva practice is also capable of uprooting and purifying the negative imprints that we have carried over from our previous lives. This empowerment will include the transmission of the 100 Syllable Mantra.
Tuesday, February 20
10- 4 INTERFAITH CENTER: Mandala viewing
4 PM: INTERFAITH CENTER: Dissolution Ceremony
BOSTON COLLEGE
Wednesday, February 21
6-8pm, St. Ignatius Church (28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467)
Avalokiteshvara Empowerment Ceremony The Gaden Shartse monks will offer this chanted empowerment ceremony for the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan, Chenrezig) embodies the compassion of all the buddhas, and this practice aims to awaken the expansive compassion which is already present in all beings as the very nature of their minds. The practice cultivates the intention to bring about joy and release from suffering for all beings. We will hold a short explanation beforehand, and Q&A with the monks afterwards.
About Gaden Shartse Monastic College
The Primary Purpose of the tour is to present the Tibetan perspective of the Buddha’s teachings, numerous empowerments, and lectures, Secondly, the generous funds donated help Gaden Shartse maintain the University’s temples, classrooms, library. texts, kitchens, food, grounds, and fields. Approximately $2.00(USA) is needed to maintain one monk for one day. This includes a small weekly stipend for necessities, and as so represents vast sums of money, for over 1000 monks, everyday. Accomplishments of previous tours have provided funds for construction of new buildings at Gaden Shartse, including the new debate hall. Additional funds raised by past tours have supported medical needs, teachers’ salaries and the day to day expenses of supporting the monastery. This success is due to the help and generosity of those who support the tours. The monks of Gaden Shartse feel deeply indebted to their friends in the West who have given their time, effort, and homes to make the tours possible.
More information about the monks can be found on their website https://www.sacredartsoftibettour.org/
At a time when we are confronted globally with uncertainty and change, join us for our Tibetan Buddhism event series, which bring courage, clarity and centeredness.