Tibetan Festival Workshops

Calming Ones Mind Meditation:  Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January 10am

Join the monks from Tashi Lhunpo for a special meditation experience. Practicing meditation which calms the mind involves the elimination of inner and outer distractions and overcoming of afflictive emotions. In a state of calmness the mind is capable of achieving equanimity, peace and clarity and with practice the potential for these capacities is limitless. This session will offer a general understanding of effective meditation and methods to create a mind which is stable, calm and alertly clear.

Why Tibet? - Grassroots Workshop: Saturday 30th January 11.30am

Ever wanted to take action for Tibet but don't know where to start? Australia Tibet Council works alongside the local Tibetan community to promote the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people and encourage a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibetan situation. Whether you have one minute or one hour to spare a day, there are many simple but effective things you can do to help. This workshop will be an opportunity to meet others who care about Tibet and will introduce participants to some of the ways we can all help create a better future for the Tibetan people.

Tibetan Ritual Dance Workshop: Thursday 28th January 1.30pm and Sunday 31st January 1.30pm

Cham or sacred dance is a feature of many Tibetan festivals. This ancient dance possesses many levels of meaning and is seen as a practice for purification and overcoming negative obstacles. It is said the great religious master Padmasambhava first performed the dance to purify the ground for the building of Samye monastery. Accompanied by monks using traditional Tibetan instruments, the Cham dancer performs solemn movements passed on in oral instruction from master to student. The dance is like a "meditation in action". Each gesture has significance, creating a sacred space where the dancer concentrates on specific centers and chakras throughout the performance.

Mantra Healing Workshop: Thursday 28th January 11.30am and Friday 29th January 1.30pm

Mantras are energy-based sounds, which produce vibrations in the Universe. "Mantra" is derived from two Sanskrit words. Man for Mind and Tra for "to protect or to free from”. Saying any word produces an actual physical vibration. When we know what the effect of that vibration is, then the word may come to have meaning associated with the effect of saying that vibration or word.

Sand Mandala Workshop: Thursday 28th January 3.30pm and Sunday 31st January 11.30pm - Dissolution Ceremony Sunday 31st January 3.30pm

Participants in these workshops learn about the meaning and history of the sand mandala. The Tashi Lhunpo Monks will share their knowledge of the traditional techniques using the small metal funnel known as the chak phur to create designs with coloured sand, allowing everyone to experience the beauty and challenges of the art form.

Please check the attached PDF for the Full festival breakdown and further information