Buddhist Monks are Coming to Unity

 

UPDATES!!!Here Come the Monks!

We will be blessed by the Sacred Art Tour March 22 thru March 29. Eight Buddhist monks will be here to raise money for their monastery in Tibet by doing various artistic activities at Unity Church, 2535 Leeds Ave in Charleston, SC 29405, and in the community. All events are open to the public. Go to www.unitychs.org for info and www.sacredarttour.org for pictures of the monks. Here is the lineup of events, (some have limited attendance!):

• Sunday the 22nd: Monks to build their altar in the Unity sanctuary. During the 9:30 and 11:15 services, Rev. Ed Kosak will hold a dialogue with them on Silence and Meditation. Unity’s youth ministry will do clay sculptures at the 11:15 service!
• At 1pm on the 22nd, the Monks will do their festive Cultural Pageant which includes costumes, chanting, debate, Yak Dance, etc. $15 donation.
• Mani Stone Workshop on Tues., March 24th at 6pm at Unity in the Charles Fillmore classroom. Spend an unforgettable evening with the monks as we create prayer stones called Mani Stones. This unique workshop will afford participants a window into the ancient practice of painting stones with sacred mantras. Please bring smooth surface stones, like river rocks, at least 4” or 5” across, all other paints, materials provided. Each student needs one stone. All ages welcome. Offering: $35 adult, 10 for children ten and under.   
• Authentic Tibetan Class and Light Dinner March 25th and again on March 28th at A Center For Well Being - 1830 Belgrade Ave, Charleston SC 29407. The Center will be the setting for a class on Tibetan cooking led by the monks. At 5:30 p.m., the Monks will teach us how to make a traditional Tibetan dish and at 6:30PM a traditional Tibetan light dinner will be served by the monks and volunteers. Pre Payment and Registration required for limited spaces.  A Center For Well Being is located at 1830 Belgrade Ave, Charleston SC 29407.  The Community is invited for a suggested donation of $35  Call 843.769.6848 for reservations. 
• Creation of a Peace Sand Mandala by the monks at Unity Church of Charleston. Opening Ceremony and viewing will be at 10:00 am to 6pm on Thursday, March 26th with viewing also on Friday and Saturday from 10 am until 6:00 pm.  The monks measure out and draw the architectural lines using a ruler, compass and ink pen. Colored sand is poured onto the mandala platform with a narrow metal funnel. The mandalas are created whenever a need for healing of the environment and living beings is felt. To bless the monks for their artistic work, please leave a donation after viewing!  
• Closing/Dissolution Ceremony of the Sand Mandala - Sunday, March 29th 1pm at Unity services, 9:30 and 11:15. During the closing ceremony the mandala will be deconstructed by Geshe Yonten. Attendees may carry away with them a small packet of sand; the rest of the sand will be taken to Ashley River Boat Access off Leeds Avenue and dispersed into the Ashley River. Unity’s youth ministry will again do clay sculptures on at 11:15am.

 

Call Unity at 566-0600 to charge your credit card for any of these events by Wednesday the 25th by 3pm please.