Eight Tibetan monks—living examples of love and compassion—are bringing their message of hope and harmony to the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures. From Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, the public is invited to witness the monks’ spiritual experience.
Highlighting their trip will be the meticulous creation of a World Peace Mandala in the Museum’s lobby. A Sanskrit word meaning “world in harmony,” the Mandala is designed one grain of sand at a time in a symbolic pattern to depict all religions in unity. The sacred ritual commences at 3 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 26, with the monks chanting prayers to consecrate the space.
From 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Friday, the public can behold this ancient tradition of holy men painstakingly fashioning a Mandala. The Closing Ceremony at 3 pm on Saturday, Sept. 30, will commemorate the rite’s completion with chants and the sound of dungchen trumpets. The public is then welcome to join the monks in their procession to the banks of the Cache la Poudre River. In solemn observance of the ephemeral nature of life, the sacred sand is blessed and released into the water.
The crowning celebration takes place Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Fort Collins Senior Center. From 3-5 pm, a spectacular Cultural Pageant will showcase the monks in costume performing dances, chants, and music. Tickets are $10/person and can be purchased in advance both at the Senior Center and the Global Village Museum. Merchandise made by the refugee Tibetan community will be on sale at the Museum throughout the week.
“We are deeply honored to host the monks as part of their 2017 Sacred Art Tour,” said Museum Director LaVon Blaesi. “We had six monks bless us with their presence in 2014, and public participation was phenomenal. With the activities this year, the monks’ visit to Fort Collins will be equally extraordinary.”
The Global Village Museum is located at 200 W. Mountain Avenue. Museum hours are 11-5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit globalvillagemuseum.org or call 970.221.4600.
PICTURES: (1) Monks prepare to construct a World Peace Mandala
(2) Monks designing World Peace Mandala one grain of sand at a time
The Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our mission is to foster and celebrate international connections between Northern Colorado and the world through exhibits of folk art, fine arts, and artifacts from around the globe; and to provide international resources and educational opportunities.
200 West Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins CO 80521
970.221.4600
info@globalvillagemuseum.org
www.globalvillagemuseum.org
