Powerhouse Museum Public Program - July 3 - 18, 2004

The Gyuto Monks are recognized within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as masters of the tantric arts of which Sand Mandalas, Butter Sculpture, and Harmonic Chanting are an integral part. All of these will be combined in a unique cultural display at the Powerhouse in July.

This year marks the anniversary of the Gyuto Monks first visit to Australia in 1994. It is also the year Gyuto Tantric University moves to their new Ramoche Monastery at Sidbhari near Dharamsala in Northern India.

The program will include the last film and photo coverage of the monks at home in their remote monastery in Tenzin Gang as well as of their new home.

The Gyuto Harmonic Choir
'SOUNDS OF TRANSFORMATION'
"To see the Gyuto Monks is a blessing, to hear the sounds of their chanting is to be transformed" Village Voice, New York
8. 00 - 10.00 pm on Friday 16 July
Venue to be advised. Admission $20 at Door on Night.

For 15 days in July eight Gyuto Monks will be resident in the Powerhouse Museum illustrating the ancient and unique tantric art ritual of Butter Sculpture Offerings only rarely seen in the west and never before in Sydney. Each sculpture is intricately modelled by hand from tiny pieces of coloured butter in exquisite detail describing traditional Buddhist teachings and symbols. They eventually form part of a stand of 12 foot high frames surrounded by a myriad of smaller individual studies. Flowers, animals and deities combine together in a glorious display which upon completion, as in old Tibet, are ritually destroyed and the 'sacred butter', which Tibetans believe has healing qualities, is distributed to the public.

In addition to the ongoing creation of the butter sculptures, the monks will create the beautiful 2 metre Sand Mandala of Chakrasamvara - the Mother Mandala. Like the butter sculpture, the mandala is richly coloured created from ground marble sands from the Himalayas and poured grain by grain to make a complex and riveting image of a perfect world. On completion it is swept away and the sands returned to the waters of the earth.

A range of other activities will be on offer each day such as the Culture for Kids School Holiday Program 'Make Your Own Luck', daily Harmonic Chanting Meditations and a series of Lunchtime Talks by Gyuto Tantric Master Jampa Tashi on 'The Science of Mind'.

Come along and play the games of chance so much a part of life in old Tibet!
"Happiness comes to those who neither wish nor worry but enjoy the surprises of life."

BUTTER SCULPTURE & SAND MANDALA from 10. 00 am - 5. 00 pm DAILY

CULTURE FOR KIDS @ 10. 30 am AND 2. 30 pm.
Culture for Kids Classes - the monks have worked with thousands of children showing them how to be happy and content with themselves and their creativity. The activities are simple, the interaction profound. All materials provided.

HARMONIC CHANTING MEDITATION from 12. 00 - 12. 30 pm DAILY

LUNCHTIME TALK SERIES - THE SCIENCE OF MIND from 1. 00 - 2. 00 PM DAILY
Each day at lunchtime the monks will offer a half hour Chanting Meditation followed by a Public Talk by Gyuto Tantric Master Jampa Tashi who personifies the tantric path of transforming the negative into the positive. It isn't useful to deny the power of our emotions, he tells how to harness this energy instead for our own benefit and the benefit of those around us.
§ Mental Breakdown
§ Making Haste Slowly
§ Clarity and Darkness
§ Relieving Pain and Hurt
§ Hidden Anger
§ Power and Focus
§ Giving and Receiving
§ The Happiness Problem
§ Facing our Fears
§ Spiritual Depression
§ The Kindness of Tough
§ Compassion and Confidence
§ Kicking Bad Habits and Embracing Good
§ The Freedom of No-Self
§ Self Deception
§ SOUND SCIENCE - FAULTY DESIGN

CONSULTING THE MASTERS - ROLL OF THE DICE @ 4pm DAILY
Tibetans often consult monks to see what they should do about life situations. These divination sessions called "Requesting a Mo" involve rolling dice to work out the future. Many Tibetans set great store by these practices and make generous offerings to the monks in the hope that all will be well. In this sense there is just as much a tradition of gambling in Tibet as here in Australia.

CHONA CHUPA CEREMONY - SUNDAY 16TH @ 3pm
The Butter Sculptures will form the centrepiece of a Special Closing Ceremony during which the 12foot high sculptures will be dissolved and burnt in the Powerhouse Courtyard in traditional tantric ceremony style. In similar fashion the Sand Mandala will be swept away and the sands returned to the waters of the earth.The monks will be resplendent in yellow robes and tall hats to lead the procession with Tibetan long horns, elephant drums and cymbals - a celebration of the impermanence of all things and the concept of endless renewal.

Daily Program July 3 -18

10.15 - 4.45 Ongoing Creation of Butter Sculptures & Sand Mandala

Culture for Kids Classes - the monks have worked with thousands of children showing them how to be happy and content with themselves and their creativity. The activities are simple, the interaction profound. All materials provided.

Each day at lunchtime the monks will offer a half hour Chanting Meditation followed by a Public Talk by Gyuto Tantric Master Jampa Tashi. Jampa Tashi personifies the tantric path of transforming the negative into the positive. It isn't useful to deny the power of our emotions, he tells how to harness this energy instead for our own benefit and the benefit of those around us.

Saturday 3 July

10. 00 - 10. 30 Blessing of the Space & Drawing of the Blueprint of the Mandala
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Make Your Own World - Mandala Art'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series ' Mental Breakdown'
2. 15 - 2. 30 Pouring of the First Sands of the Mandala
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Weaving'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Sunday 4 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Poles'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Making Haste Slowly'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Monks Magic Flowers
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Monday 5 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Wishpath Prayer Flags'
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Clarity and Darkness'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Chess'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Tuesday 6 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mala Magic'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Relieving Pain and Hurt'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Monks Magic Flowers'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Wednesday 7 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Weaving'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Hidden Anger'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Bamboo Pen Calligraphy'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Thursday 8 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Fortune Talismans'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Power and Focus'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mind Games'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Friday 9 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Sho - Tibetan Dice'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Giving and Receiving'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mani Trees'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Saturday 10 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Fortune Talismans'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'The Happiness Problem'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Butter Sculpture'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Sunday 11 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mani Stone Painting'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Facing Our Fears'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Chess'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Monday 12 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Bamboo Pen Calligraphy'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Spiritual Depression'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'The Game of Enlightenment'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Tuesday 13 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mandala Art'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'The Kindness of Tough'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Weaving'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Wednesday 14 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mani Stone Painting'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Compassion and Confidence'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mala Magic'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Thursday 15 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Weaving'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Kicking Bad Habits & Embracing Good'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Karma Dough'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Friday 16 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Prayer Flags'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'The Freedom of No-Self '
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'The Game of Enlightenment'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'
8. 00 - 10. 00 The Gyuto Harmonic Choir - 'SOUNDS OF TRANSFORMATION'
Venue to be advised. Admission $20 at Door on Night.

Saturday 17 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Mani Stone Painting'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Self Deception'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Tibetan Peace Poles'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Consulting the Masters 'Roll of the Dice'

Sunday 18 July

10. 00 - 10. 10 Blessing Chant
10. 30 - 11. 30 Culture for Kids 'Butter Sculpture'
12. 00 - 12. 30 Harmonic Chanting Meditation
1. 00 - 2. 00 Lunchtime Talk Series 'Sound Science - Faulty Design'
2. 30 - 3. 30 Culture for Kids 'Monks Magic Flowers'
4. 00 - 4. 45 Dissolution Ceremony & Procession to Powerhouse Courtyard where the Butter Sculptures will be consigned to the fire, the Mandala Sands to water, in a symbol of the impermanence of all things.

All sessions by Donation - please give generously
Funds raised support the refugee monks of Gyuto Tantric University

Public Program prepared and presented by Gyuto House Australia.

Basic Details:
Date: July 3 - 18, 2004
Address: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street Ultimo, Sydney, NSW
Further Information: Ph 0412 124 678
General Entry by Donation - All Welcome

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