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The Drepung Gomang Monks during their 2013 visit. Photograph by Thomas Crone
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On Sunday morning, six monks from the exiled Drepung Gomang Monastery visited the Mississippi River. They swam and canoed. On Sunday afternoon, the group was taken to Ferguson by their host, Patty Maher, who thought that the experience would be a good one for all parties.
“It was beautiful,” Maher said. “They were very intrigued by the situation. You could feel their affect. It was pretty humanizing. There was no language barrier, it was all positive, smiling faces. Photo ops went on for two solid hours. Very heartwarming.”
Geshe Tsewang Thinley mentioned that the group talked to television reporters and the people involved in the protests in Ferguson saying that “we have a problem in Tibet, too. The message is compassion and love. The Dalai Lama says the message is that we can come here and give dharma talks, teach nonviolence to the world. Show love to the people through interfaith teaching.”
While the visit to Ferguson was an ad hoc event, it cut into one of the few days the monks had free when arriving in St. Louis for a nearly two-week visit on their Sacred Arts Tour. While here through September 2, they will create sand mandalas, give dharma talks, chant at the Festival of Nations. They will also be a magnet wherever they go, creating a conversation through their impromptu visits to places like the Zoo and Ted Drewes.
“We love to meet people,” Geshe Tsewang Thinley said, “talking to all different people about our culture.”
All of the events, Geshe Tsewang Thinley said, are meant to bring the message of “peace. Ignorance is no good. All people have suffering. They do not want to be suffering. They want happiness.”
Among the many events taking place is a mandala making experience at Saint Louis University, as well as a lecture.
The monks will make the mandala at these times at the Center for Global Citizenship (3672 West Pine Mall, just east of the Clock Tower in the middle of campus):
Wednesday, August 27, from the opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 28, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Friday, August 29, from 10 a.m. until the closing ceremony at 4 p.m.
Flags from many nations fly around the top of this building. Parking is available in the large parking garage on the south side of Laclede (between Grand and Spring).
The monks will make a presentation about Tibetan culture and their practice of Buddhism on Thursday, August 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Loyola Room at Jesuit Hall, 3628 Lindell Boulevard (corner of Grand and Lindell).
For a full listing of events, see the flyer above (second image).
We covered the Drepung Gomang monks on their 2013 visit to St. Louis, as well. Coverage can be found here.
