Community Corner
Tibetan Monks Visit Red Bank's Westside
Monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery spend four nights at the Red Bank Holistic Learning Center as part of their Sacred Arts Tour.
The Red Bank Holistic Learning Center (RBHLC - 10 River Street) welcomed the Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India for a four night visit on their Sacred Arts Tour. They have visited many locations in the Northeast and in New Jersey, including Carnegie Hall, Deborah Heart & Lung Center and Princeton University, where they are currently appearing and creating a peace mandala, a geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective.
"We're very honored to have these monks visiting us," said RBHLC Director Jeff Stevens, "...it was just a lucky break in scheduling, but we're very excited by what we might learn from them, given this opportunity."
The mission of their tour is to communicate a message of peace, wisdom and compassion "to heal our anxious minds in these troubled times," to introduce the arts and culture of Tibet to North America, and to generate funds for the food and medical supplies that are necessary to support the nearly 2000 exiled refugee monks who call the Southern Indian monastery their home.
Each evening, they share the compassion and wisdom of their culture...free of charge. They ask only for donations and in return they offer crafts, art pieces and CDs. All donations go directly to support their work and to house, feed and educate those who study with them at their monastery, including orphans and refugees fleeing Chinese occupied Tibet.
The four night series runs till Friday. Each night's program runs from 7 to 9 and is different from the previous nights. For more information call Jeff Stevens, Director of the Learning Center, at 732-936-8165 or visit them on the web at www.RBHLC.com.
