This week, Santa Barbara makes a call to peace. For one week, lasting until August 13, S.B. is hosting the Drepung Gomang Monastery's official sacred art tour. With sand sculptures, paper cranes, and origami lotus blossoms, the monks of the monastery are sharing their ancient arts; in their words, "creating peace ... one grain of sand at a time."
At the Alhecama Theatre on 914 Santa Barbara Street, monks from the monastery are constructing, grain by grain, a Chenrezig Compassion Sand Mandala, as well as folding paper cranes and origami lotus blossoms; the community is invited to join in the folding. The monks will host two daily meditations, one in the morning at 7:30 a.m. and and one in the evening at 5:30 p.m., with traditional chanting, prayers, drum, cymbal, bell, and Tibetan long horns.
The week is midway through, but there are a few great events left. On Thursday, August 10, local leaders from S.B. Buddhist centers will lead Sangha Night, an evening of meditation and discussing spiritual well-being. Becoming present and mindful. On Friday, August 11, spiritual fabric artist Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo will screen her film, Threads of Awakening.