Becoming Peacemakers: A Tibetan Sacred Arts Retreat

Cultivating Inner Peace Through Meditation, Sacred Art, Dialogue, and Compassion
The Mandala Path: A Journey to Peace with the Monks of Sera Jey

Join six Tibetan Buddhist monks from Sera Jey Monastery in India for an unforgettable five-day journey into the heart of peace. At the center of this immersive experience is the creation of a sacred sand mandala, a living map of the awakened mind made visible, where participants meet the energy and image of peace and compassion firsthand. The mandala traces the journey itself: encountering the Five Buddha Families and, through them, joining the wider family of peacemakers.

The Steps of Liberation are the skills and tests learned along the way. Through chanting, silent meditation, traditional dance, peace circles, and dialogue, participants will explore how inner transformation becomes compassionate action grounded in the Five Buddha Families, the Twelve Steps of Liberation, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path. A special screening of Mission: Joy offers a moving reflection on the friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

On the final day, before the mandala’s dissolution, an empowerment ceremony based on the mandala’s central Buddha image will be offered. The ceremony blesses everyone present and empowers them to carry the message of peace forward. As the completed mandala is ceremonially dissolved and released, guests carry its reminder that peace cultivated withi naturally moves from our hearts into family, community, and the wider world.

Schedule:

Wednesday, December 2

• 3 – 5:30 pm Guest Arrival, Registration & Room Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Opening Ceremony: Becoming Peacemakers
  • Welcome, introduction of the monks, sacred chanting, retreat orientation, and guided meditation for peace

Thursday, December 3

• 7 – 8 am Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 – 10:30 am Opening Prayers & Consecration of the Mandala Space
• 10:30 am – 12 pm Beginning the Sacred Sand Mandala
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
• 3 – 5:30 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Inner Peace as the Foundation for World Peace
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Guided Meditation & Peace Circle: What Does It Mean to Be a Peacemaker?

Friday, December 4

• 7 – 8 am Morning Meditation, Mantra & Sacred Chanting
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Compassion and Interdependence
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 3 pm Optional Film Screening: Mission: Joy
  • Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (dir. Peggy Callahan & Louie Psihoyos) offered alongside rest, spa time, and nature walks for those who do not wish to attend
• 3 – 5:30 pm Mandala Creation, Small-Group Dialogue & Deep Listening Practice
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Reconciliation and the Courage to Listen: Teaching, guided contemplation, questions, and community dialogue

Saturday, December 5

• 7 – 8 am Morning Meditation & Prayers for Healing
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am – 12 pm Mandala Creation & Teaching: Transforming Difficulty into the Path
• 12:30–1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 3 pm Rest, Spa Time, Nature Walks, or Personal Reflection
• 3 – 4:30 pm Completion of the Sacred Sand Mandala
• 4:30–5:30 pm Sacred Dance, Ritual Music & Contemplative Movement
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 – 9 pm Becoming a Peacemaker: Closing teaching, dedication, candlelight meditation, and prayers for world peace

Sunday, December 6

• 7 – 8 am Final Morning Meditation & Sacred Chanting
• 8 – 9 am Breakfast & Guest Room Check-out
• 9:30 – 10:15 am Final Teaching: Carrying the Retreat into Daily Life
• 10:15 – 11 am Mandala Viewing, Blessing & Closing Prayers
• 11 am – 12 pm Ceremonial Dissolution of the Sand Mandala
• 12 – 12:30 pm Peace Procession & Offering of the Sand
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note this schedule is subject to change.