July 27th through August 1st – Sand Mandala Creation. Observe the Mandala in process, as a team of Monks continue ancient

Manjushri Sand Mandala

ritual by building a Sacred Sand Painting. Viewing the Mandala opens the mind and awakens the spirit. It is said that the blessings a Sand Mandala brings are multiplied by the number of grains of sand that it contains. This Mandala is dedicated to Manjushri, the wisdom Buddha. 400 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen, CO

July 27th at 3:30pm – Butter Sculpture Workshop – The monks will work with children and adults to create traditional sculptures made from butter, as has been done in Tibet for over 800 years. Red Brick Center For The Arts – 110 E. Hallam Street, Aspen, CO 81611.

July 27th at 7:30pm – Manjushri Empowerment – The empowerment of Buddha Manjushri is an opportunity to receive special blessings from the Wisdom Buddha so as to develop and increase our own inner wisdom. This wisdom has the power to answer all of our questions, and overcome our doubts and hesitation. In particular, the wisdom that realizes ultimate truth has the power to liberate us once and for all from the bondage of our ignorance and bestow upon us the everlasting joy of enlightenment. Aspen Community Church – 200 E. Bleeker Street, Aspen, CO 81611.

July 29th at 7:00pm – A Journey to the Roof of the World: Sacred Dance and Chants of Tibet. Come join us for an evening of sacred sounds from the roof of the world. Long hidden behind the Himalayan mountain ranges, the ancient Tibetan culture remained virtually untouched by the outside world for thousands of years. Now you will have an opportunity to experience the rare sounds and dramatic imagery of Tibetan sacred dances, music, and chants. Glenwood Springs Ramada Inn – 124 W. 6th, Glenwood Springs, CO.

July 30th at 7:30pm – A Journey to the Roof of the World: Sacred Dance and Chants of Tibet. Come join us for an evening of sacred sounds from the roof of the world. Long hidden behind the Himalayan mountain ranges, the ancient Tibetan culture remained virtually untouched by the outside world for thousands of years. Now you will have an opportunity to experience the rare sounds and dramatic imagery of Tibetan sacred dances, music, and chants. Aspen Community Church – 200 E. Bleeker Street, Aspen, CO 81611.

July 31st at 1:00pm – Mountain Top Blessing – Come join us at the top of the Aspen Mountain for this special blessing. Just take the Gondola up.

August 1st at 2:00pm – Sand Mandala Dissolution – This is a special ritual in which the Manjushri Mandala will be blessed and dissolved. Everyone in attendance will receive a small bag of the blessed sand and we are planning on taking the rest to the Gulf of Mexico to help heal and purify all the beings impacted by the recent tragedy. 400 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen, CO

So all went well at the TV station and then we had a wonderful lunch at Yva-Marie’s.  It was then that I got the news – in order to get to Colorado Springs in time, we needed to drive over Independence Pass. That’s right – 12,095 feet high with parts of the road only big enough for one vehicle to get through.  By the way, I am driving a one ton van full of monks and pulling a cargo trailer. Dennis says “no problem, I will lead the way”  and off we went. As we did I saw a sign stating no vehicles longer then 35 feet are allowed. Quickly evaluating the overall length of my van with the trailer as I am trying to keep up with Dennis, I concluded it couldn’t be longer than 34 feet, 10 inches and breathed a sigh of relief while trying to recall a mantra that will help us make it to the top (maybe I will actually measure it one day).

As the pictures indicate below, we did make it!  So we had to take a few photos and enjoy the amazing view.  While taking pictures (at 12,095 feet, high atop the Rockies) we turn to see someone taking pictures of us – our good friends, benefactors, webhosts, and film makers, Ri and Renee. They have come out to film some of our events as they are making a documentary of the tour.  However, they had no idea we would be there (neither did I for that matter) and yet we were all gathered together at this spectacular location.  Karma is an interesting thing my friends!  Because they were there, you will get to see some of the wonderful pictures they took posted below =).

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Our schedule was off to an auspicious start as it was His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s Birthday.  We woke up early and Ray and Peggy joined us for a special morning ritual.  In the evening we invited the community to celebrate his birthday with us. We had a great turnout, did a special puja, sang happy birthday, and all shared cake and tea afterward.

Of course no visit to Grand Junction can be complete without our visit the Division of Youth Services (adolescents that are locked up). This is always one of our highlights.  Our good friend Jeff (a teacher there) always arranges for us to do and presentation and talk for the kids. Then we get to have lunch and visit with them. The kids are so receptive and really love spending time with the monks.  On a side note, the facility is really nice and the monks thought it compared to a 5 star hotel back in India.  They wondered how much the parents had to pay to send their kids there =).

Our main event was the construction of a Manjushri mandala at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts.  This is such an active and special art center. They have so many workshops and activities for the community it was great to see and be a part of. The mandala was sponsored by the kind people at the Earthwise Foundation and our dear friends Ray and Peggy.

All of our evening events were hosted by the Riverside Multicultural Center. The director, Juanita, is a dynamo! She is the force behind the center and has her hands full trying to make sure stays afloat. It is an important part of the community and, with this recession, funding is a challenge.  It is a beautiful space and we were able to do all our events there – from talks, to video presentations, to our full stage performance.

All and all, a great week – topped off with the dissolution of the mandala and a “dinner with the monks.” Ray and Peggy hosted a fundraiser dinner and the monks cooked a traditional Tibetan meal featuring momos.  Good food and friends.

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Venerable Chophel with Venerable Geshe Kunchok Tenzin

July 22 – 24 – How to Establish a Daily Spiritual Practice Workshop – This is a 3 session (1 1/2 hours each) workshop facilitated by Venerable Jangchub Chophel. To register contact Elisabeth at egick1@gmail.com or call 970-728-4689.

July 23 at 5:15 pm – World Peace and the Unity of all Religions – This talk will be given by Venerable Geshe Kunchok Tenzin and will include a short meditation. Telluride Yoga Center – 201 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, CO.

July 24 at 9:30am – Karma, The Law of Cause and Effect. This teaching will be given by Venerable Geshe Kunchok Tenzin and will include a question and answer period. Telluride Yoga Center – 201 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, CO.

July 24 at 5:00pm - Vajravidaran Healing Ritual. Vajravidaran is a Buddha associated with purification and health. Health is a result of our karmic imprints. This ritual offers an opportunity to improve your health by purifying negative karma. The Vajravidaran ritual of purification and has three stages: the removal of negativities, the cleansing of subtle negative imprints, and protection from their return. Telluride Yoga Center – 201 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, CO.

July 25 at 10:00am – Sacred Chants and Music of Tibet. Come join us for a sampling of the sacred sounds from the roof of the world. Long hidden behind the Himalayan mountain ranges, the ancient Tibetan culture remained virtually untouched by the outside world for thousands of years. Now you will have an opportunity to experience the multiphonic throat singing of Tibetan monasteries. Performance will be on the terrace of the Wilkinson Public Library, 100 West Pacific Ave (the terrace entrance is on Pine).

Grand Junction, Colorado

Tibetan monks create mandalas to represent a dwelling palace. Now, a group of them from the Garden Shartse Monastery, all the way across the world, are on the Western Slope to show off their beautiful art. The monks from India have been working for hours to create the colored sand piece over at the Art Center on 7th Street, and now they are sharing their work with the public for free.

Monk Chophel tells News Channel 5 they love coming to Grand Junction. “The reason we create them here is to just share as educational and cultural exchange another form of art,” he said.

The Earthwise Foundation and the Art Center made the four day visit possible. The monks will host a cultural show and other events through the weekend in the Grand Valley, and you are asked to join in the fun.

The yak-herder and the yak give a dance performance as part of the presentation given by the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation to the teens at the Division of Youth Services Tuesday morning. The monks will visit a variety of locations in the Grand Valley this week.

When Jangchub Chophel was growing up in California, his family did not have blue toilet water or take trips to the park on a Sunday afternoon.

He often wondered how a person acquired such luxuries, never knowing that love was within his heart and that blue toilet cleaner was sold in the grocery store.

“I just never knew that I could have a regular life,” Chophel, a Buddhist monk from the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation told teens at the Department of Youth Services Tuesday morning.

He told the audience that all they had to do to change their own lives was to ask themselves “Why am I here? What is the purpose of this place on my life? Where do I want to go?”

Chophel said they should think hard and realize that no matter what brought them into the facility, it was within their power to create a different and regular life for themselves.

“Your dream and your life is all right here. The only thing that separates the person you are from the person you want to be is the actions that you take to get there,” he told the teens.

Chophel, a light-hearted and funny man, was not the kind of person many of the teens thought a monk would be.

“We’re no different than anybody else,” he said, “we are working hard to change attitudes, compassion, caring and we think about the meaning of life.”

The audience was in awe of the lifestyle choices the monks had made, asking questions about diet, celebacy, and for their thoughts on God and creation.

Chophel did his best to give straight forward answers. The purpose of a monk’s life, he explained, was to “benefit all human beings.”

The youth presented the monks with handmade pens, something each teen within the facility learns to make as part of their rehabilitation program. The monks gave the facility officials white scarves, or khatag, as a symbol of friendship. The facility also made a donation to the monastery.

The monks will be at a variety of locations this week including the Riverside Multicultural Community Center, the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, and a visiting session with the community at the downtown Farmers Market.

A complete list of events and tours is available at http://www.gadenshartsecf.org.

The monks will also create a Manjushri Sand Mandala at the Center for the Arts. It will be released into the Colorado River at Eagle Rim Park on Saturday.

The yak-herder and the yak give a dance performance as part of the presentation given by the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation to the teens at the Division of Youth Services Tuesday morning. The monks will visit a variety of locations in the Grand Valley this week.

When Jangchub Chophel was growing up in California, his family did not have blue toilet water or take trips to the park on a Sunday afternoon.

He often wondered how a person acquired such luxuries, never knowing that love was within his heart and that blue toilet cleaner was sold in the grocery store.

“I just never knew that I could have a regular life,” Chophel, a Buddhist monk from the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation told teens at the Department of Youth Services Tuesday morning.

He told the audience that all they had to do to change their own lives was to ask themselves “Why am I here? What is the purpose of this place on my life? Where do I want to go?”

Chophel said they should think hard and realize that no matter what brought them into the facility, it was within their power to create a different and regular life for themselves.

“Your dream and your life is all right here. The only thing that separates the person you are from the person you want to be is the actions that you take to get there,” he told the teens.

Chophel, a light-hearted and funny man, was not the kind of person many of the teens thought a monk would be.

“We’re no different than anybody else,” he said, “we are working hard to change attitudes, compassion, caring and we think about the meaning of life.”

The audience was in awe of the lifestyle choices the monks had made, asking questions about diet, celebacy, and for their thoughts on God and creation.

Chophel did his best to give straight forward answers. The purpose of a monk’s life, he explained, was to “benefit all human beings.”

The youth presented the monks with handmade pens, something each teen within the facility learns to make as part of their rehabilitation program. The monks gave the facility officials white scarves, or khatag, as a symbol of friendship. The facility also made a donation to the monastery.

The monks will be at a variety of locations this week including the Riverside Multicultural Community Center, the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, and a visiting session with the community at the downtown Farmers Market.

A complete list of events and tours is available at http://www.gadenshartsecf.org

The monks will also create a Manjushri Sand Mandala at the Center for the Arts. It will be released into the Colorado River at Eagle Rim Park on Saturday.

Now two years later we came together again, this time steeled veterans, and kicked off the 2010-2011 Gaden Shartse Monastic Tour. Once again she gathered her band (Tom, Mary, Mike, Fiona, Natalie, Jose, Marc, and Teri) and a new group of monks met, embraced, and blessed the people of Moab.  We have truly come to love Moab’s, unique beauty and the are so fortunate to have such friends.

In addition to the regular schedule of events, once again they managed to get the monks out on the Colorado River.  Yes that’s right, on the 4th of July Dr. Bob, his wife, Jill, and their kids treated the monks to a river rafting trip. Uncle Mike, aunt Mary, and sister Susie joined in the fun and we had an adventure!  In the evening we were treated to dinner under the stars with lots of fireworks and new friends.  Yes the tour is off to an auspicious start.

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– Celebration and prayers in honer of His Holiness the 14th Dalai’s 75th birthday.

July 7th through July 10th – Manjushri Sand Mandala Creation at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts 1803 N. 7th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 (9am to 5pm Wednesday through Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday). The sand mandala is a sacred art form created by Tibetan Buddhist monks from millions of grains of brilliantly colored sand.  Each mandala is made with the motivation to create a work of art that will generate compassion in the viewer and therefore help to end suffering among all beings.

The Manjushri Wisdom Sand Mandala in Tibetan Buddhism represents the power in all of us to take knowledge and wisdom and use it to combat negativity, hatred, anger and violence in the world.  It symbolizes the use of knowledge and wisdom to end suffering in the world rather than to cause it.  Manjushri is pure compassion at work, integrating positive thoughts, speech and actions for the benefit of all beings, something every one of us can choose to do on an hourly and daily basis in our lives.

July 7th, 7:30pm – Vajravidaran Healing Ritual at the Riverside Multicultural Center 522 W main St, Grand Junction, CO. Vajravidaran is a Buddha associated with purification and health. Health is a result of our karmic imprints. This ritual offers an opportunity to improve your health by purifying negative karma. The Vajravidaran ritual of purification and has three stages: the removal of negativities, the cleansing of subtle negative imprints, and protection from their return.

July 8th, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Conversation with the monks at the Farmer’s Market (6th and Main Street). The monks will have an information booth and would love to meet and talk with you. Please feel free to come and join us.

July 9th, 7:30pm – Journey to the Roof of the World: Sacred Dances and Chants of Tibet at the Riverside Multicultural Center 522 W main St, Grand Junction, CO. Come join us for an evening of sacred sounds from the roof of the world. Long hidden behind the Himalayan mountain ranges, the ancient Tibetan culture remained virtually untouched by the outside world for thousands of years. Now you will have an opportunity to experience the rare sounds and dramatic imagery of Tibetan sacred dances, music, and chants.

July 10th, 1:30pm – Sand Mandala Dissolution Ceremony at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts 1803 N. 7th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. A special ceremony will be performed and the sand mandala will be ritually swept up. All in attendance will receive a small bag of the blessed sand and the rest will be poured into the Colorado River to help purify and cleanse the environment.

July 10th, 2:30pm – Blessing and Purification of the Colorado River with sand from the mandala at Eagle Rim Park.

July 10th, 7:30pm – The Inside Story: Images of Tibetan Monastic Life at the Riverside Multicultural Center 522 W main St, Grand Junction, CO. A rare peek inside the world of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monks will give a video slideshow capturing the essence of their sacred lifestyle as well as behind the scenes images. The presentation includes narration and a question and answer period. The audience will have an opportunity to engage the monks and learn more about their ancient way of life.

July 11th, 7:30pm – Dinner with the Tibetan Monks. (Private Residence – contact Peggy at 970-260-1645)

Personal healings, business/home blessings, and astrology are available by appointment. Contact Peggy at 970-260-1645.