Rare opportunity- near Boston Tibetan nuns creating Mandala of Compassion

[Nothing Without Hope]

This event ends next Tuesday, the 1st, when the sand from the mandala will be dispersed into the lake to symbolize the release of the intentions into the world. From what a friend told me, the room where the mandala is being made is open to the public each day except while the nuns meditate (for an hour starting at 1 PM). The nuns are Buddhist, but this is a nondenomational invocation and celebration of compassionate love and peace.



At the Davis Museum at Wellesley College this group of Tibetan nuns is making this Compassion Mandala --a rare happening in its own right because until recently only male monks were permitted to do so. (There are MANY arenas for womens' rights movements in the world.) I've been told the feeling of peace and love in that room is amazing. Sounds good to me! For anyone who lives anywhere near, here's a description of the event:
http://www.davismuseum.wellesley.edu/exhibitions/exhibitions_mandala.html

Edited to add: Another page with info on the mandala creation is here:http://www.wellesley.edu/RelLife/rel/buddhism/calendar.html
This is the Wellesley Buddhist Society page, which was at one of the links on the other page I gave above. There is additional info here on the dispersal ceremony and contact info in case someone wants to come but has questions about times or other issues.

[saltpoint]

1. How pathetic that these poor, misdirected souls --

-- are using peaceful means to redirect focus toward world peace and dignity and love and compassion when IN FACT they should be screaming their damned heads off over the IMMINENT PERIL posed by SpongeBob and other cartoon figures.

An appalling case of spiritual misguidance.

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Yeah, they sure need to re-order their priorities! Imagine!

Caring more about compassion and peace than about a cartoon character's sexual orientation! The idea!

I'm really looking forward to this, leaving soon. I'm going to try to get to the sand dispersion ceremony too. Sounds beautiful. With the ugliness of the fight for democracy and justice we are in, these opportunities to feed our souls and remind ourselves of the real values we are fighting for are priceless.

[saltpoint]

4. Hi, NWH. I envy you your participation and I hope you --

-- will go with the idea that many of us would like to join you.

It is a ceremony so wildly superior to anything the Nutcase Right has going... it is just sublime and affirming next to the Right's hateful and hysterical.

I send good vibes your way.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Thanks for the vibes OC, I'll send some back to you on Tuesday

I've decided to go then, as the Davis Museum will close early today and is closed tomorrow. The dispersal ceremony will be in the late afternoon on Tuesday, so I can see the completion of the mandala earlier in the day and perhaps join the dispersal as well. I love the symbolism of the concentrated loving compassion released into the world like the grains of the colored sand in the water of the lake. I expect it to be a profound experience. I'll think of you while I'm there.

For today, since it's too late for Wellesley, I'll just take some cracked corn and stale bagels and head over for the ducks and geese at the local nature preserve. They're wild, but trusting. With all the snow on the ground and the ponds iced over, they are very enthusiastic about generous visitors and endearing with their range of vocalizations and waddling movements. It's especially enjoyable to watch them being fed by children.

By the way, there are signs of early spring all around here. Under the snow in the garden, the tulip shoots are about two inches tall. Everyone knows about the vivid glories of fall in New England, but it's the slow unfolding of spring here over MONTHS that is the most thrilling to me. I grew up in a part of the country with nothing resembling it, and I am freshly entranced each year. I'm hoping to see something parallel happening to our country after the long winter of corruption and disenfranchisement.

My best to you.

[saltpoint]

6. Beautiful words.

thank you.

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. I've written a report on the dispersal ceremony

It's REply #2 in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=291&topic_id=551#567

I'm a bit reluctant to intrude, but since I doubt you will see thispost and you did seem interested in the ceremony, I'll also PM youabout my report on it. As I promised, I did think of you while I was there.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Sounds like the hall will be closed on Monday. Here's more on the hours.

Here's more info from the Wellesley Buddhist Society:
http://www.wellesley.edu/RelLife/rel/buddhism/calendar.html

The creation of the mandala will take place in the Davis Museum and Cultural Center. The hall will be open to the public between the hours of 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and between 12:00 and 4:00 pm on Sundays, except Mondays. These hours are subject to change to honor special sacred intervals in the mandala-making process when the hall must be closed. On Tuesday, March 1st, a closing and dismantling ceremony, will begin at 4:00 p.m. It will begin at the Davis Museum and proceed to the shore of Lake Waban.

There will also be a special ceremony of compassion on the following day, March 2nd. There's more info about that at the Wellesley Buddhist Society link.

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. kick - the dispersal ceremony wll be Tuesday afternoon n/t

[paineinthearse]

9. Did anyone attend?