Buddhist Themes To Be Explored In New Hartford

NEW HARTFORD — In approximately 566 B.C., a man named Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal. He left home at the age of 29 to seek out the meaning of life — more specifically, in an attempt to discover why, in his eyes, so many people of the world that he encountered seemed to endure such intense and unfair suffering.

For six years, he trained in the practices of yoga, a philosophy that teaches a system of exercises, ultimately directed toward the attainment of physical and mental control and well-being.

Gautama eventually became “the enlightened one,†the Buddha, and dedicated the rest of his earthly life to teaching others this “path to enlightenment†that he had followed.

The traditions that evolved are still alive today at temples around the world and in the united states, including at the Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple & Meditation Center in New Hartford. The center offers Wednesday evening healing energy meditation sessions, in which participants find relaxation through spiritual awareness. With the eyes closed, and the head upright, but not rigid, mental focus is placed on breathing, perhaps even counting breaths. Creative visualization may also be used to quiet the mind.

A special event will take place at the center next month, as Dae Yen Sa Temple welcomes the return of the Sacred Art Tour, Sept. 18 to 23. The tour, featuring eight Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery, is currently traveling throughout the United States, promoting cultural awareness, sacred arts and traditions, and community.

During the week of their visit to the Dae Yen Sa Temple, these Buddhist monks will demonstrate an ancient Tibetan art form, constructing two sand mandalas. A mandala is “any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective.â€

In Tibetan Buddhism, a mandala is a sand “painting.†The construction process takes several days, and the mandala is destroyed shortly after its completion. This is done as a metaphor for the impermanence of life.

Gautama the Buddha’s final words are said to have been: “Impermanent are all created things; strive on with awareness.â€

In addition to the daily opportunities to view the mandala’s intricate creation process, several different types of ceremonies, meditations, specially prepared meals, tea brewings and informal talks with the monks will offer opportunities for learning and cultural exchange throughout the week.

Healing meditations and silent prayers, walking meditations on temple grounds, talks on Buddhism and Dharma and potluck and vegetarian lunches and dinners are just some of the events that are scheduled during the Sacred Art Tour’s weeklong visit to the Dae Yen Sa Center.

At the end of the week, one of the mandalas will be wiped away and returned to the earth for healing. Another mandala will remain at the temple as a permanent display of spiritual art.

This will be the monks’ second visit to the temple this year. Donations are accepted at the events, with all proceeds going to assist the Food & Medical Fund of the Drepung Gomang Monastery.

The basics of Buddhist wisdom teach such concepts as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and the Kalama Sutta.

What seems to be the most quintessential inroad to acquring a Buddhist state of mind, however, is the practice of peaceful meditation.

The most common — or at least the more traditional — postures for meditating are sitting upright (on a pillow) with each foot upon the opposite thigh. This is called the lotus position. Some people prefer sitting back on their legs, or kneeling.

The hands are placed loosely, palms up, one on top of the other, and with the thumbs lightly touching. This is called the cosmic mudra, one of a large number of symbolic hand positions. Some prefer to lay them flat on their thighs, or any other way that they find comfortable.

The Dae Yen Sa Temple also offers a Saturday morning program beginning at 8:15 a.m. that includes a nature walk, yoga and stretching, meditation, and a question-and-answer session, ending with an 11:30 a.m. lunch.

Additional information about the Drepung Gomang Monastery and the Sacred Art Tour is available at www.gomang.org.

To find out more about exact hours of specific events or for more information about the Dae Yen Sa center, call 860-489-3254.

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