The public is invited to come and watch this process take shape, talk to the monks while they are working, and try their hand at the "small mandala" being created by the public.

The creation of the mandala will be accompanied by...

• A documentary videotape on the making of the mandala at Gyudmed Tantric Monastery
• A video of a computer-generated mandala created by Cornell University
• A photographic exhibition of many mandalas (the monks from Gyudmed are experts in the creation of hundreds of mandala forms which are used for different prayers, rituals, and blessings)
• An exhibition of actual traditional Tibetan instruments used in the making of mandalas and ritual objects and clothing used in Tibetan Buddhist prayer ceremonies

During the ritual creation of Butter Offerings, the monks take tiny bits of the butter (of every intense color of the rainbow) and model the intricate sculptural pieces by hand. Depending upon the occasion, the monks follow designs that are thousands of years old, or create new designs of contemporary views. A completed piece may be combined with others to create an elaborate display as high as twenty feet, surrounded by a myriad of smaller individual studies.

Traditionally, at the completion of the ceremony which may take several hours or several days depending upon the complexity of the pieces being created, the Butter Offerings are ritually destroyed and the"sacred butter", which Tibetans believe has healing qualities, is distributed to the public where it is kept in special boxes in the home.

Life in a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery
A look at the daily life as well as special rituals during the year at Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, one of the largest and oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Gyudmed monks are known for their Tibetan sacred arts skills, involved prayer rituals and elaborate costumes, as well as multiphonic chanting. Will feature the history of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery in Tibet, life in the monastic centers in exile, including the role of the young children who become monks at an early age. Will include demonstrations of debating, chanting with sacred drums and symbols, and the hand mudras used in prayer rituals.

The Role of the Tibetan Monastic Community in The Free Tibet Movement
A brief history of the Chinese Occupation of Tibet. Life before and after in Tibet for the monastic community as well as lay people. Slide show of the monks and nuns in Tibet participating in demonstrations in Lhasa, Tibet as well as at their monasteries and nunneries. The leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and how his approach affects the monastic communities.

Sacred Arts in the Life of the Tibetan Buddhist Tantric Practitioner
Covers history of the Tantric practitioners — how Tibetan sacred arts is taught in the monasteries; what art forms monks are required to learn; how the various sacred arts are used throughout the monastic life for prayer rituals, as meditation guides, and as a basis for continued study toward enlightenment. Slide show of thangka paintings, butter sculpture, sand mandalas, wood and metal sculpture, tantric dances, and music performances.

Compassion and Kindness: The Theme of An Entire Culture and Its Government
How the theme of compassion and kindness is played out through the monastic community as well as the entire Tibetan culture. Excerpts of speeches by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, including his view of practicing compassionate action to the Chinese who are currently occupying Tibet through violent means; education of children in Tibetan culture as to their role in the world providing service to others; use of Tibetan sacred arts and meditation to focus the individual on the practice of compassion as a daily ritual for peace, harmony and kindness toward others.

Death and Dying
How the Tibetan Buddhist religion and philosophy looks at the subject of death and dying. How reincarnation fits into this perspective. The use of the Tibetan Book of Dying to lead a seriously ill person through the stages of living and dying to ensure a peaceful death. The role of the monastic community in helping individuals and their families cope with the issues of death and dying. Discussion and contact with other religious perspectives. Accompanied by video that can be shown before or after dialogue, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - An Explanation of the Tibetan Perspective.

How We Pray
Looking at the application of spiritual practice in the life of the common man and woman in society. To whom do you pray? Are there areas where it is considered to be"inappropriate"to ask for help"from above?"The role of prayer in the life of Tibetan Buddhist children versus children of other faiths. Discussion of different approaches to prayer in differing religions.

• Demonstrating and guiding students in the creation of butter sculpture and Tibetan calligraphy for arts classes (accompanied by slide show and/or video)
• Discussing the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the resistance of the monastic community (accompanied by a video) in history, international relations and political science classes
• Presenting a look at the primary role of debate in Tibetan Buddhist monastic education. Slide show will show the education system, monks at debate; comparison with debate in American high schools and universities; the topics covered, the rationale behind the debating process. Will include demonstration of monks debating, with translation of the major precepts for the audience. Demonstration of debate techniques to debate and education classes
• Exhibiting sacred objects from Tibetan Buddhist rituals and discussing their use in comparative religion classes
• Lecturing (accompanied by slide show) on growing up in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery to sociology classes
• Demonstrating and guiding students in multiphonic chanting in voice and music classes

High schools, community colleges and universities may also choose to have the Gyudmed monks present any of the half-day and full-day demonstrations and hands-on classes from the list below...

Family Art Workshops (full day)
The monks have expressed a special interest in working with children and families and leading family arts workshops. This is a unique opportunity to be in the presence of and learn from these remarkable people who are master artists, dedicated to teaching compassion. The slide shows and hands-on demonstrations will lead you and your family in the creation of Tibetan arts. You will move from art station to art station to play with the butter sculpture and make flowers, animals and objects of your own designs; use the sand mandala tools to create a community sand mandala which will, according to Tibetan tradition, be scattered to the winds in a ceremony at the end of the day; practice multiphonic chanting; paint and draw traditional Tibetan flower paintings; write your name in Tibetan calligraphy, and watch a Tibetan puppet show put on by the monks.

Professional Artists Series (3 day event for professional artists)
This is the ultimate workshop for professional artists who are looking for inspiration and new perspectives on their art and artistic techniques. The monks will lead the sessions in the Tibetan sacred arts, using slide shows, hands on demonstrations and lectures to bring the excitement of these art forms into the world of Western art. In most communities, this will take place in artist studios or cooperative artists spaces where 15 to 20 artists can take part.

Tibetan Sacred Symbols
Overview of the Tibetan sacred symbols that appear in architectural renderings, thangka paintings, butter sculpture, mandalas, and on other sacred art objects; history, explanation, and discussion of the symbols.

Tibetan Calligraphy
Will feature the changing history of Tibetan calligraphy, types of pens, brushes, papers and inks used; analysis of Tibetan characters (alphabet). Practice by all participants.

Tibetan Flower Painting
Traditional Tibetan flower motifs at libraries, monasteries, schools and government buildings. Hands-on demonstrations of how paints are made; subtleties of shadings, detail work, use of gold paints to highlight the finished works. Discussion of the colors used, meanings behind the various flower motifs, and the variety of flower forms. Each participant will leave with a finished piece they have created during the workshop.

Tibetan Butter Sculpture
Using butter mixed with high intensity color oil paints, the monks prepare intricate butter sculptures of Buddhist deities and sacred symbols. These are used, especially during Losar, the Tibetan New Year, in prayer rituals and families purchase them as a blessing for their homes. Each participant will take home a butter sculpture piece they have created during the workshop.

The Compassion Mandala
The mandala and its role in Tibetan sacred art and the life of the Tibetan community, including the history of the mandala; training for the monks who create the mandala; use in Tibetan Buddhist meditation and prayer rituals; the creation of the initial design; the symbology used; colors and their significance; use of sands and different types of paints. Monks from Gyudmed are credited with having created the process of three-dimensional sand mandalas which were seen in the movie Kundun. Each participant will take home a painted mandala created during the class.

Thangka Painting
Paintings that depict Buddha, Buddhist deities and the lineage of Tibetan religious sects. Covers preparation of materials according to traditional Tibetan thangka painting techniques; how paints are ground from minerals and prepared for the canvas; how canvasses are prepared; types of brushes used; selection of designs and adherence to traditional design formats; use of shading; meaning of traditional thangka images.

Classes in Multiphonic Chanting
Classes in multiphonic chanting, a signature chanting of the Gyudmed and Gyuto monks. This class will demonstrate breath control, the origins of multiphonic sounds in the body, and teach three sacred mantras which are used throughout Tibetan Buddhist prayer rituals. Accompanied by drums, bells and other sacred ritual objects.

Classes in Tibetan Cooking
Local restaurants can facilitate Tibetan cooking classes taught by two of the monks who have extensive training in cooking. The monks from Gyudmed Monastery run a well-known restaurant in Dharamsala, India that supports the 500 monks of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery in South India. They are experts at a variety of Tibetan fare including the preparation of flat Tibetan noodles, made into stir fry dishes and hearty soups, rice dishes, and traditional Tibetan momos, a type of filled pasta with cheese, meat or vegetables.

Visits to Local Hospitals
In several communities the Gyudmed monks will visit hospitals, speak with patients and staff, lead guided mediation sessions in the interfaith chapel for patients and families, do blessings for patients, and give a one hour presentation for health care professionals on the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying — a Tibetan Buddhist Approach to Death and the community's role in helping the dying person be calm and positive in the face of death. At a children's hospital in one town, the monks talk to children; lead beginning meditation sessions; teach multi-phonic chanting and put on a puppet show using traditional Tibetan puppets that tell the ancient stories of life in Tibet.

Meditation Sessions
Each day will begin with an early morning meditation session. The public is invited to attend and participate. Local buddhist dharma centers may also sponsor evening guided meditation sessions for the public that may be combined with teachings from the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.

Teachings on Meditation Practice
Classes for adults and children on meditation practice. How to meditate; the role of meditation in the lives of Buddhist adults and children; how it stretches beyond the"religious"into ordinary life and develops focus, clarity and intention on all activities during the day.

Men's Workshops
Men's Groups Weekends — The Gyudmed monks will, facilitate guided meditations; teach about Tibetan Buddhism; lead multi-phonic chanting sessions to accompany meditation practice; have hands-on/demonstrations of Tibetan arts and spirituality; give a slide show on life in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery; participate in discussion groups on the contrasts between Asia and the West, Tibet and the United States, the life of a Buddhist monk versus that of an American man, and the role of Tibetan Buddhist monks in their society versus that of men in the United States.

Prayer Ceremonies (pujas) for the Community
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of providing religious support to the lay community through prayer rituals performed at homes, hospitals, and at public ceremonies, the Gyudmed monks will give private and public blessing ceremonies. These prayer pujas are powerful connections to the spiritual world and are regularly requested by Tibetan families and communities for new buildings, for family members who are ill, getting married, having babies, or going through a difficult life transition.