Events – Key West Tara Mandala

with Debra Kupchok

Special Event - Guest Speaker Lisa Erickson

Special Event – Guest Speaker Lisa Erikson

Saturday, January 27, 2024

10:00 – 12 Noon ET on Zoom

The History of Women in Buddhism in America

A Message from Chögé Lisa about the Class:

Many women aided the development of Buddhism in America, from the nineteenth-century Chinese immigrants in California to the pre-civil war Transcendentalists in New England. Come learn about these early pioneers, along with the many later women, all the way up to today, who have paved the way for our own practice. Then we’ll practice Prajna Paramita together ourselves, a true culmination of our celebration of the divine feminine as it has come to us.

About Chögé Lisa:

Lisa Erickson is a Chögé, meaning ‘virtuous teacher of dharma’, in Tara Mandala’s Teacher’s program. She is a certified Feeding Your Demons facilitator and teacher. She is a Kalyanamitra in Tara Mandala’s Magyu program, and part of the first group to complete Kapala V training within Magyu. She is coordinator of the South Bay Los Angeles Tara Mandala sangha, and co-coordinator for the Mandala Method Certification Program. Lisa is also certified in mindfulness meditation instructions, trauma sensitivity, and multiple energy healing modalities.

Offering Dana for the Teacher:

Teachers of Tibetan Buddhism do not receive a salary for their work. In this tradition, teachers are offered dana (generosity) by the participants for the teachings and meditations.

Tara Mandala suggests the dana range for a teacher’s teaching sessions as $5 – $15 per hour. For any online 2-hour class, please consider offering a range of $10-$30 per class.

You can send Dana to Chögé Lisa at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/lisaanneerickson

Please join our Sangha for this very informative talk.

We will send you the Zoom link if you send your name and email address to:

kwtaramandala@aol.com

~May all beings benefit~

Drepung Gomang Monks - Sacred Arts Tour 2025

The Florida Keys Tara Mandala Sangha, in collaboration with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, is delighted to announce the hosting of the Drepung Gomang Monks’ Sacred Arts Tour in January 2025.

About the Sacred Arts Tour:

The Sacred Arts Tour is a unique cultural and spiritual experience that brings the ancient traditions of Tibetan Buddhism to communities around the world. The Drepung Gomang Monks, hailing from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India, showcase a rich tapestry of Tibetan sacred arts during their tours. These arts include intricate sand mandala construction, traditional chanting, vibrant dances, and meditative rituals that offer a glimpse into the profound spiritual heritage of Tibet.

Objective of Tour:

A) To make a contribution to world healing and peace by sharing unique Tibetan Buddhist teachings, sacred religious performances, chanting, and Tibet’s unique identity treasures of culture and authentic traditions.

B) Recognizing well, and very deeply, that there have been great tragedies in every part of the world, we want to share our sympathy and prayers together with you as human beings sharing this planet and sharing the future of this home of ours.

C) To generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization and human rights abuses by the Communist Chinese since 1959. As the situation in Tibet is becoming more desperate by the day, due to massive displacement of Tibetans by Chinese citizens sent there by the Communist government, and ever new rules and difficulties, especially at the monasteries, we need your help now.

D) To raise support for the refugee monks’community in south India for proper food, improvement in health & hygiene and for providing better education facilities for the monk students. We preserve our tradition and culture.

For more information about Drepung Gomang Monastery, visit www.DrepungGomang.org.

By attending events, workshops, and ceremonies during the tour, our Florida Keys community members not only partake in a cultural and spiritual journey but also contribute to the monks’ efforts to make a positive impact in the world.

The monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery are renowned for the Sacred Art of Sand Mandala Construction. They will be creating a World Peace Mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning “world in harmony.” It is made by placing one grain of sand at a time, while contemplating world peace, compassion, wisdom, wellness and long life. Construction of a mandala of this size and intricacy takes 5-6 days to complete with multiple monks working on it for 5-6 hours a day. Each day’s events include an opening ceremony. Before working on the mandala each day, the monks recite prayers in the traditional overtone chanting, with each monk singing a full chord of three notes. The prayers are often accompanied by delicate hand gestures, cymbals, drums, horns, and flutes.

MORE EVENTS:

Tibetan Cultural Arts, Music, Dances & Debate

Daily Dharma Talks & Mandala Blessings

Tibetan Music & Movie – Tropic Cinema

Mala-Making Workshop and Other Artisan Workshops

Click here: Schedule of Events to see dates & times of all events and workshops.

Be sure to visit the authentic TIBETAN ARTISAN MARKET where the monks display a range of quality Tibetan crafts, clothing, shawls, beads, books and Dharma-related gifts that are handmade by craftspeople from Tibetan communities in India and Nepal or by the monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery. Proceeds help to support those studying at the Monastery with living expenses and medical care.

ALL EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – 401 Duval/Eaton, Key West

When: TBA

Donations are greatly appreciated at all events to support the Monks’ tour and 2,000 plus fellow monks at the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India.

Dana (generosity) Donations

The practice of offering dana, a Pali and Sanskrit term that means “generosity,” dates back 2600 years in Buddhist history. In the Buddhist tradition, the teachings, rituals, and meditations are given freely because they are considered priceless. At the same time, participants also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings for the teachings and the activities of Monks and all dharma teachers. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the Monks but also the larger Dharma community of the Dreppung Gomang Monastery while creating blessings in your own life.

To donate directly to the Drepung Gomang Monks go to: https://www.drepunggomang.org/donate

~ May All Beings Benefit ~