~~Join us in January 2025 when once again Key West Tara Mandala Sangha will host the Drepung Gomang Monks in Key West.~~
See you then!
Sacred Arts Tour 2024
Schedule of Public Events
**Dates and times are subject to change.** Last Update: January 4
Visit the Tibetan Artisan Market – Open every day this week
Daily Events – December 31 – January 5 Monday-Friday @ St. Paul’s Church – 401 Duval
9:30 am – Monk’s Morning Blessings & Meditation – Setting the Intention
12:00 Noon – Short Daily Dharma Talk w/Geshe Lharampa Khenrap Chaeden – Topics may include: Intro to Buddhism, Basic Meditation Practice, 4 Noble Truths, Impermanence, Karma, Bodhichitta
**4:00 pm – Monk’s Closing Blessings & Tea Ceremony for the Mandala Creation **Tuesday Closing Blessing at 3:00 pm
ALL DAY – Tibetan Artisan Market – handmade wares of Drepung Gomang Monastery
Church is OPEN 8:00 am – 7:00 pm to view sacred Sand Mandala. ~~Please be respectful~~
**NOTE: Weds & Thurs slight change to schedule
SPECIAL EVENTS – All kind donations for the Monks Appreciated
Dec 31, 2023 – Sunday – St Paul’s Church
12:00 Noon – Opening Ceremonies – Blessing for the World Peace Sand Mandala-Interfaith & World Peace
Monks begin creating the World Peace Sand Mandala as an offering of the healing energy of all enlightened beings to the World. Join us for this special ceremony being offered for peace in our war-torn world. All are welcome to come and meditate during the mandala’s construction, adding your intentions to this offering for world peace.
5:00 pm – Sunset and Melting Bowl Event at Higgs Beach w/Unity Church
Jan 1 – Monday – St. Paul’s Church
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm – Tibetan Cultural Event
Featuring Snow Lion Dance/Yak Dance/Good Luck Dance/Traditional Chants & Debate…experience these unique Tibetan sounds and Traditional costumes. Families Welcome! Free to the Public
Jan 2 Tuesday – Parish Hall of St. Paul’s Church
2:00-3:30 pm – Sand Mandala Workshop
Come experience a lesson in Impermanence as you learn the sacred art of creating a sand mandala using a chakpur & tiny grains of sand to create a personal-sized mandala of one of the eight Tibetan auspicious symbols. Then let it go-only the photos &
memories remain!
3:00 – Closing Blessing * No Artisan Market after 3:30 pm
4:00 – Monks will be blessing the ocean on a Sunset Sail
~ All materials included ~ Donation $25 ~ Limited to 20 ~ See the Artisan Workshop page for Registration Information
Jan 3 – Wednesday
10:00 – 11:00 am – St. Paul’s Church Service followed by Dharma Talk by the Geshe – “Buddhism, Impermanence & Purpose of Creating a Sand Mandala.”
2:00 – 3:30 pm – Parish Hall of St. Paul’s – Mala Making & Mantras
Join the monks and Karen Moore of ZEN Jewelry to create a 108-bead prayer mala and learn the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum.” Malas are used to generate a more centered meditation practice, peaceful life and calm mind.
~ All materials included ~ Donation $68 ~ Limited to 20 ~ See the Artisan Workshop page for Registration Information
6:30 – 9:00 pm – Tropic Cinema – 416 Eaton St., Key West
Visit the Sand Mandala in progress and the Tibetan Artisan Marketplace at St. Paul’s before the Tropic Cinema event.
6:30 pm– Meet the Monks and Traditional Tibetan Chant and Horns.
Hauntingly beautiful chanting that transcends mere sound will envelop listeners in a sacred and meditative atmosphere. As the monks harmonize their deep, resonant voices, the air vibrates with a rhythmic cadence. The resonating sound of long horns, known as dungchen, adds a majestic and otherworldly quality to the auditory experience.
7:00 – 9:00 pm – Movie: Wandering…But Not Lost – Q & A w/ the Monks
This film is the story of a much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, who walked away from his life to live that of a wandering yogi. Such a practice is filled with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges — begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the related risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions — present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind. The beautiful Tibetan landscape is also a feast for the eyes in this award-winning film.
~ Tickets $20 limited ~ Purchase in advance at www.TropicCinema.com or Buy at the Tropic ticket counter.
See the Tropic Cinema Event page for more information and to view the trailer.
Jan 4 – Thursday – St. Paul’s Church
12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm – St. Paul’s Church – Organ Concert/Sacred Sounds of the Monks – Free to Public
2:00-3:30 pm – Parish Hall of St. Paul’s Church – Mani Stones Workshop
Paint flat river stones with the Compassion Buddha mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”, a prayer asking for the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and a good heart. The stone is a physical representation of positive conditions such as long life, health and success. Monks will teach how to create images and decorate stones with sacred mantras and Buddhist symbols.
~ All materials included ~ Donation $25 ~ Limited to 20 ~ See the Artisan Workshop page for Registration Information
Jan 5 – Friday
2:00 – 3:30 pm – Parish Hall of St. Paul’s Church – Sand Mandala Workshop
Come experience a lesson in impermanence with the monks as you learn the sacred art of creating a sand mandala using a chakpur and tiny grains of colored sand to create a personal- sized mandala of one of the eight Tibetan auspicious symbols, then let it go. Only the photos and memories remain!
~All materials included ~ Donation $25 ~ Limited to 20 ~ See the Artisan Workshop page for Registration Information
4:30pm – 6:00 pm – St. Paul’s – Tibetan Cultural Event
Featuring Snow Lion Dance/Yak Dance/Good Luck Dance/Traditional Chants & Debate…experience these unique Tibetan sounds and Traditional costumes. Families Welcome! Free to the Public
Jan 6 – Saturday – St. Paul’s Church Sanctuary
2:00 – 3:00 pm – Closing Ceremonies & Dissolution of Sand Mandala of World Peace
The fully completed sand mandala is swept up into a pile of sand symbolizing letting go; life is transient and impermanent; the sand is then ofered to the sea to go to the far parts of the world.
Procession to Simonton Street Beach to offer the sacred sand to ALL Beings & Final Blessings