Don’t miss an amazing chance to experience the sacred world of Tibet with its Buddhist chanting and mantras, ringing of bells, blowing of trumpets and beating of drums at Quay Arts, this July.
Eight monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery will be in residence, creating a sand mandala with a programme of dances and music involving colourful traditional costumes and ceremonial masks to illustrate the diversity of their astonishing culture.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama says of the Monastery:
‘Tashi Lhunpo Monastery is one of the most important monasteries in Central Tibet besides being the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama.
Launch
The launch of the SAND MANDALA will be held on Tuesday 15 July at 2pm with a free Hands-On Workshop at 4pm.
A mandala is a two-dimensional representation of the celestial mansion of the deities, and represents the paths and fruits of particular cycles of practice.
To make a sand mandala, millions of grains of coloured sand are painstakingly laid by the monks in an intricate design over a period of days. The completed mandala is dedicated and then finally destroyed in a moving ceremony.
The Hands-On Workshop introduces the Tibetan arts of sand mandala making, butter sculpture and the beautiful calligraphy of the Tibetan script, and offers the opportunity to learn a few words of Tibetan from one of the monks.
People taking part can carry away with them a prayer flag printed from a traditional wood block.
The Power of Compassion
The week concludes on Saturday 19th July with the Destruction Ceremony at 10:30am (free) and Pre-Performance Workshop at 3pm (free), with the final performance, THE POWER OF COMPASSION at 8pm (tickets £10/£9)
The Power of Compassion is a dramatic, entertaining and informative 90 minute performance of the masked dances and sacred chant of a Tibetan monastry. This involves music and dance, with colourful masks and richly brocaded costume, offering a unique glimpse into a timeless spiritual world, and illustrating the full range and diversity of this astonishing culture.
The Pre-Performance Workshop at 3pm provides an introduction to the dance, musical instruments and costumes used during the performance. Learn some of the steps of the dance, and the hand gestures or mudras used in the Tantric rituals.
There are limited numbers for both the workshops and performances so book now on 01983 822490 to avoid disappointment!
Background:
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama in the 15th Century, and the seat of the Panchen Lama, is one of the most important monasteries in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Now re-established in exile in South India, the monastery is once again becoming one of the major centres of learning, best known for its artistic tradition of masked dances and sacred music. The performance offers a rare opportunity to witness a unique and endangered culture.
After the Tibetan national uprising that took place in 1959, a handful of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery monks along with many thousands of Tibetans escaped into India. The Monastery was then subsequently re-established in Bylakuppe in Karnataka State, India. With the induction of new recruits over the years, the Monastery today has about 250 monks. Most of our major monasteries are thriving, but Tashi Lhunpo is still facing difficulties.
Through the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust’s educational and cultural exchanges, including chanting and cham performances, the monks share our unique Tibetan culture and their special monastic tradition with people in Europe and other parts of the world. The Trust also supports the Monastery’s work in India. Any assistance extended to the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery will be much appreciated.
As Patron of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust and because of my unique relationship with the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, I support the work of the Trust and wish it success in its attempt to help the Monastery here in India”¦’
Bits and Bobs:
Performance Date/Time: Tue 15 – Sat 19 Jul
Location: Anthony Minghella Theatre, Quay Arts
Tickets: Workshops Free / Performance £10 / £9
Box Office: 01983 822490
