THE BUDDHIST MONKS ARE COMING BACK!

Buddhist Sand Mandala Creation

The Monks from Drepung Gomang Monastery of Southern India

visit Neighborhood Congregational Church
October 21-October 25, 2014

10 am - 4 pm Daily


Sunday, October 26
10:00 Worship
11:15 Processional to Beach & Dissolution Ceremony

Neighborhood Congregational Church Sanctuary

340 St. Ann’s, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

We look forward to welcoming the monks!

Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach is again hosting the Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery of Southern India, October 21-26. For the last four years, the church has generously sponsored a visit from Tibetan Buddhist monks, providing support and housing, while also opening the church doors to the monks and their many visitors.

The Monks will start the creation of the Sacred Mandala on Tuesday, October 21, in the Neighborhood Church Sanctuary with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Each day, the monks will begin and end with their unique trichord chant, a special blessing of meditation and worship to begin and end their work on the Sacred Mandala.

During the 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, October 26, the monks will complete the Sand Mandala creation and assist Rev. B. J. Beu in leading worship in the Neighborhood Church Sanctuary. Following worship on Sunday, the monks and Rev. Beu will lead a processional to the beach for a dissolution ceremony of the Mandala into the Pacific Ocean as a reminder of our impermanence and a call to release our focus on attachment.

During the monks’ visit, the Church Sanctuary will be open to the public between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday for people to observe the monks at work and meditation. All are invited to visit, observe, meditate, reflect, admire, and pray during the creation of the Sacred Mandala. There is no charge or admission fee for visits to the Neighborhood Church Sanctuary. Donations are welcome to support the work of the monks, with 100% of your donations going directly to their monastery in India.

Several special events are also planned by the monks during their visit. On Tuesday, October 21, they will present a 4 pm explanation of the Manjushri Mandala followed by Dharma Talk on “Compassion and Love.” On Wednesday at 4 pm, the monks will give an “Introduction to Buddhist Dharma,” and later that evening at 7 pm, perform a Fire Puja, a cleansing ceremony to remove obstacles and improve health. Thursday’s pm Dharma talk will focus on “Suffering and Happiness and the Four Noble Truths.” On Friday night, October 24, from 7-8, the monks will offer a Cultural Pageant featuring Mandala Prayer, Good Luck Dance, Chanting of Praise, and the Snow Lion Dance, in Neighborhood Church’s Bridge Hall (across the courtyard from the Sanctuary).

On Saturday, October 25, Neighborhood Church will open its Labyrinth in Bridge Hall from 11 am – 1 pm, while the monks continue the Sand Mandala creation in the Sanctuary. The Labyrinth and visits to the Sanctuary are both open to all visitors and free of charge.

From 7-9 pm that evening, Saturday, October 25, the monks will prepare and serve a Community Meal in Bridge Hall as a fundraiser in support of their monastery and ministry in southern India. The whole community is invited to partake and enjoy this amazing evening, along with all of the events during the week. Suggested donation for each special event is $15, all going to support the work and ministry of the monks, but observation of the Sacred Sand Mandala creation is always free. For more information, visit www.ncclaguna.org or contact Pam Wicks at 949 573 7104 or the church office at 949-494-8061.

Neighborhood Congregational Church is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, and welcomes all people to worship and participation. The church is located in Laguna Beach at the corner of Glenneyre and St. Ann’s, one block east of Pacific Coast Highway. Free parking is available in the church parking lot across from Ralph’s parking lot at Cleo and Glenneyre.