Prayers for peace: Tibetan monks share their culture at Canton Country Day School

Charita M. Goshay, Canton Repository
·2 min read
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Tibetan monks share a message with students during the Dance of the Giant Panda while visiting Canton Country Day School. The visit was part of five-day tour in Canton sponsored by Yoga Central.
Tibetan monks share a message with students during the Dance of the Giant Panda while visiting Canton Country Day School. The visit was part of five-day tour in Canton sponsored by Yoga Central.

PLAIN TWP. − The desire for peace is universal.

That was the message conveyed this week at Canton Country Day School, which played host to a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks.

Their visit to Stark County, part of their multistate 2023 Sacred Arts Tour, was sponsored by The Yoga Place, where they gave several cultural programs and demonstrations.

Students at Canton Country Day School enjoy a visit from Tibetan monks as they shared their culture with the students. The monks were in town courtesy of Yoga Central.
Students at Canton Country Day School enjoy a visit from Tibetan monks as they shared their culture with the students. The monks were in town courtesy of Yoga Central.

Followers of the 14th Dalai Lama, the monks are members of the Dreprung Gomang Monastery, located in southern India, where they have been in exile since 1959 when the order was forced out of Tibet by the communist Chinese government.

The group's leader, the Venerable Geshe Lharampa Khenrap Chaeden, said their goals are to pray for peace, to offer the world their condolences for the suffering at hand, and to share and preserve their history and culture.

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A Tibetan monk does "The Good Luck Dance" during a visit to Canton Country Day School.
A Tibetan monk does "The Good Luck Dance" during a visit to Canton Country Day School.

The monks, who previously had visited Stark County, had to suspend touring the U.S. during COVID-19.

Other objectives of their tours include generating more awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization and ongoing humans rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese government, which includes the displacement of Tibetans from their homeland, and to raise support for the monastery in India, where Chaedan noted they receive a number of American visitors.

Tibetan monks chant the Prayer of the Mahakala during a visit to Canton Country Day School.
Tibetan monks chant the Prayer of the Mahakala during a visit to Canton Country Day School.

The monks were accompanied by Bonnie Paglialunga and Rhoda Kuster, who narrated the program at Canton Country Day, that featured seven demonstrations that included prayers, debate, chants and dances.

Tibetan monks chant during a visit to Canton Country Day School as part of a five-day tour in Canton hosted by Yoga Central.
Tibetan monks chant during a visit to Canton Country Day School as part of a five-day tour in Canton hosted by Yoga Central.

"They wanted to share their unique traditions, and they also wanted to recognize the tragedies that are happening in the world," Paglialunga said.

At the conclusion of their presentation, the monks presented Canton Country Day with a banner depicting the Dalai Lama and a blessing.

Tibetan monks visiting Canton pose for a photo with students after presenting a gift to the school that was accepted by Canton Country Day School's Business Manger Jeremy Hesson, top row second from left.
Tibetan monks visiting Canton pose for a photo with students after presenting a gift to the school that was accepted by Canton Country Day School's Business Manger Jeremy Hesson, top row second from left.

The Yoga Place at 4626 Cleveland Ave. NW will host an open house with the monks today.

The schedule is as follows:

10 a.m. − Construction of a Mandala sand painting. Donations accepted.

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. − Restorative Yoga. $15.

Noon to 4 p.m. − "Momos to Go" dumpling demonstration. Seven for $10, or 16 for $20.

1 to 2 p.m. − Karma lecture and meditation. $10.

3 to 5:30 p.m. − Stone Painting demonstration. $10.

7 to 8:30 p.m. − Closing ceremony. $15.

To learn more, visit www.theyogaplaceohio.com; call 330-499-2863; or e-mail to DrepungGomangCompassion@gmail.com.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Tibetan monks share their culture at Canton Country Day School