Photos courtesy of The Mystical Arts of Tibet World Tour

Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India will share their cultural traditions as part of their world tour, The Mystical Arts of Tibet, at Rider University April 25 through 27.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet is co-produced by Richard Gere Productions and Dreprung Loseling Institute, the North American Seat of Drepung Loseling Monastery. Endorsed by the Dalai Lama and under the direct guidance of Dreprung Loseling Monastery, the tour has three basic purposes: to make a contribution to world peace and healing through sacred art; to generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization; and to raise support for the Tibetan refugee community in India. The events at Rider are free and open to the public.

“The Mystical Arts of Tibet program is an exciting and rare opportunity for the Rider University community to experience a cultural event of this magnitude while increasing personal and world awareness. I strongly encourage student organizations, classes, departments and other groups on campus to attend collectively and reflect on their experiences,” said Bridget Weikel, assistant director of campus activities and recreation programs.”

The program will begin with an opening ceremony Tuesday, April 25 in the Student Recreation Center (SRC) Lobby. The monks, also known as lamas, will be featured in a chanting ritual from noon to 1 p.m. During the ceremony, they will consecrate the site of a Mandela Sand Painting. Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place in this ancient spiritual art form in order to purify and heal the environment and its inhabitants. To date, the monks have created mandala sand paintings in more than 100 museums, art centers, and college and universities in the United States and Europe. Their work will be exhibited for two days.

Tibetan monks will also present two lectures in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on April 25 and April 26. The topic of discussion on April 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. is “The Psychology of Enlightenment.” On April 26, the topic of the lecture from 5 to 6 p.m. is “Tibet Today: The History of a Diaspora.”

Students will also have an opportunity to make their own Wind horse, the Tibet prayer flag, and learn about this Tibetan tradition. This University-sponsored interactive opportunity will be available April 24 at 4:30 p.m. in Daly Dining Hall, April 26 at 11:30 a.m. in Daly Dining Hall, and April 26 at 6 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center Lobby.

A closing ceremony for the sand painting ritual will take place April 27 from 11: 30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the SRC Lobby. “The Mystical Arts of Tibet“ will conclude that day with Sacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing performance from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater. Robed in costumes and playing traditional Tibetan instruments, the monks will perform ancient temple music and dance for world healing.