Buddhist monks from India to visit Sacramento area for sacred teachings

Marcus D. Smith
·2 min read
1

Placerville Friends of Tibet plan to host their 2024 Sacred Earth and Healing Arts of Tibet Tour as they welcome monks from Gaden Shartse Monastic College in India.

Their tour, themed “cultivating compassion,” will take place in January at locations in Folsom and Placerville, according to their website.

The tour will begin Jan. 3 in Folsom at Dignity Health’s Mercy Hospital at 1580 Creekside Drive. There will be a mandala created and available for daily viewings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A mandala, according to the Asia Society, is a symbol of the universe in its ideal form, and its creation signifies the transformation of a universe of suffering into one of joy.

In an interview with ABC10, Wendy Wood, an event spokeswoman said it’s the first year that Folsom joined the tour.

“(We’re) hoping to bring more of their arts and culture and teachings to the Folsom (and) Sacramento region,” Wood told ABC10. “Mercy Folsom approached us to host in Folsom … so we agreed to do this for a week prior to them heading up to Placerville for another two weeks.”

There will be curated gatherings each evening, beginning Jan. 3, which consist of an opening ceremony, dharma talks and a healing ceremony. Pet and personal blessings will be taking place on Saturday, Jan. 6 starting at 10 a.m.

The group will take their tour to El Dorado Federated Church at 1031 Thompson Way in Placerville starting Jan. 9, the Placerville Friends of Tibet website said.

The tour in Placerville will also include a mandala creation that will be available daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Some of the workshops in Placerville include mediation sessions, butter sculpture and calligraphy.

Their website noted there will be dharma discussions on the following: compassion in action and loving kindness; impermanence, finding peace through uncertain times; Chay Drol Healing Ritual, Chenrezig Empowerment and pet blessings.

For more information on the tour and its full schedule, visit www.placervillefriendsoftibet.org.