Take in the Tibetan culture during this five-day festival celebrating their art, food and philosophy with concerts, presentations, and the creation of a sand mandala.
August 25 – 29, 2008
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
MONDAY, AUGUST 25 Noon – 5 PM
Tibetan Cultural Festival Ongoing Events.
Immediately following the opening ceremonies, Losang Samten will begin creating the Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala. During the day Losang also tells stories, teaches, and explains the meaning of the mandala. Everyone, including children and groups are encouraged to stop by. Enjoy authentic Tibetan food, meet Tibetan vendors offering jewelry, crafts, and art, and listen to Tibetan music on Valhalla’s lakeside lawn as Losang Samten begins the creation of the Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala in the Grand Hall.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 11 AM – 5 PM
Viewing and Construction of Sand Mandala.
Join Losang Samten each morning from 11:00-11:30 in silent meditation. At 11:30 he continues to create the sand mandala by pouring grains of colored sand from a traditional metal funnel called a Chakpur. During the day Losang will also tell stories, teach, and explain the meaning of the Mandala. Donations welcome.
11AM - 7 PM
Tibetan Cultural Festival Ongoing Events.
Enjoy authentic Tibetan food, meet Tibetan vendors offering jewelry, crafts, and art, and listen to Tibetan music on Valhalla’s lakeside lawn.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Life, Death, and Reincarnation.
Losang Samten will help us understand the process of life, death, and rebirth from the Buddhist perspective. “If we wish to die well, we must learn how to live well: hoping for a peaceful death, we must cultivate peace in our mind and in our way of life” H.H. Dalai Lama Suggested Donation $15. Valhalla Grand Hall
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 11 AM - 5 PM
Tibetan Cultural Festival Ongoing Events.
Join Tibetan Lama Losang Samten at 11:00 in silent meditation. At 11:30 Losang will continue placing colored grains of sand into the mandala, taking breaks to teach and tell stories. Everyone, including children and groups are encouraged to stop by. The Tibetan Festival will continue with music, arts, crafts and Tenzing and Yangchen's authentic Tibetan cuisine on the lakeside Valhalla Lawn. Donations gratefully accepted.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 11 AM - 5 PM
Viewing and Construction of Sand Mandala
Losang will continue to create the sand mandala by pouring grains of colored sand from a traditional metal funnel called a Chakpur. Join him each morning from 11:00-11:30 in silent meditation before he begins on the sand mandala. During the day Losang will also tell stories, teach, and explain the meaning of the Mandala. Donations welcome.
11 AM - 7 PM
Tibetal Cultural Festival Ongoing Events
Enjoy authentic Tibetan food, meet Tibetan vendors offering jewelry, crafts, and art, and listen to Tibetan music on Valhalla’s lakeside lawn.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 7 PM TO 9 PM
Medicine Buddha Healing Meditation
Losang Samten will lead us in visualization and guided meditation. Medicine Buddha is said to be the manifestation of the healing energy of all enlightened beings. Valhalla Grand Hall. $15 suggested donation.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 11 AM TO 5 PM
Final viewing of the Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala.
Losang Samten will complete mandala today in preparation for the closing ceremony. He begins each day in silence with a 30 minute meditation. During the day will stories, teach, and explain the meaning of the Wheel of Life. Everyone, including children and groups are encouraged to stop by. Donations welcome.
11 AM - 6 PM Final Day of Tibetan Cultural Festival Ongoing Events
Enjoy authentic Tibetan food, meet Tibetan vendors offering jewelry, crafts, and art, and listen to Tibetan music on Valhalla’s lakeside lawn.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Sand Mandala Dismantling Ceremony.
As part of a traditional Tibetan Ritual, Losang Samten will sweep up the colored sands to symbolize impermanence, then carry the sand to a body of water where it is ceremonially poured to disperse the healing energies of the mandala throughout the world. Valhalla Grand Hall. $10 suggested donation.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 7 PM - 9:00 PM
Dorje Namjum Purification Ceremony
Tibetan Lama Losang Samten leads us through an ancient Tibetan ceremony ritual of healing and purification for ourselves, others, the community, and the universe through prayer, meditation, and visualization as transmitted to him by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Valhalla Grand Hall $15 donation recommended.
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Venerable Lama Losang Samten, a renowned Tibetan scholar, spiritual teacher and artist, was born in Chungpa, near Lhasa, in Central Tibet. He and his family fled to Nepal in 1959 and later moved to Dharamsala, India. At the age of 11 Losang became a Buddhist monk and studied with the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. He later joined the Namgyal Monastery, the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. In 1985 he earned the highest degree at the monastery, a Master's Degree in Sutra and Tantra, equivalent to a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Debate. From 1984 – 1988 Losang served as a personal attendant to His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.
For more information, go to www.losangsamten.com
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Donations will help to support the Tibetan Refugee Community and the Tahoe Tallac Association. Please help make this a successful annual event for the benefit of all.
Visit Losang’s web site at www.losangsamten.com
Schedule info: www.nevadadharma.net
Information: Contact Dave or Jan Arnett at (530) 525-1900 or arnett@sierra.net for more information or to volunteer to help with the festival. |
