The Dhargyey Buddhist Centre community is planning five days of public events surrounding the Dalai Lama’s birthday this Sunday, July 6, including an exhibition, a ceremony at the Portobello Stupa and the creation of an intricate sand mandala.
Dhargyey Buddhist Centre board members Helen Ingrams and Jane Johnson said the celebrations would be mainly based at the Dunedin Community Gallery in Princes St, which would host the exhibition and a series of events from this Saturday to Wednesday, July 5-9.
The exhibition, which will be officially opened in an invitation-only ceremony on Saturday, at 10am, will feature artefacts, videos and imagery from Tibetan Buddhism, specifically focusing on the "four commitments" made by the Dalai Lama when he fled Tibet in 1959.
These include fostering human values, religious harmony, Tibetan culture, and the revival of ancient Indian wisdom.
Ms Ingrams said the heart of the exhibition would be the work of local Tibetan monks, who would painstakingly create an intricate, multi-coloured sand mandala over five days, representing Chenrezic the Buddha of compassion.
Work on the sand mandala will begin at 11.30am on Saturday, following the opening, and will continue each day of the exhibition between 9am and 4pm.
It will be completed and then swept up at about 2.30pm-3pm on Wednesday.
"The sand mandala will be positioned near the gallery’s front windows, so passers-by will be able to see it, and people are welcome to drop in and watch it taking shape," she said.
The work on the sand mandala will continue while other activities happen in the exhibition space, including public teachings, a quiet reflection and meditation space, children’s activities, displays of ceremonial Tibetan clothing and a random act of kindness tree.
"We are putting out a personal challenge to the people of Dunedin to make conscious, warm-hearted acts towards each other during this time," she said.
Local children are invited to come along to the children’s table and make birthday cards for the Dalai Lama, which will be sent to him by the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre.
Mrs Johnson said, in the week leading up to the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6, Dhargyey Buddhist Centre members have been meeting nightly to complete one million mantras — short Sanskrit prayers for long life.
"Since His Holiness turned 80, we have been saying prayers for him and his long life in the weeks leading up to his birthday," she said.
"And now he is turning 90, we are happy to invite everyone to join us in celebrating his life."
On Sunday, the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre community will welcome the public to join them at 2pm for a Sang ceremony to mark the Dalai Lama’s birthday at the Portobello Stupa (sacred site), which can be accessed via 1588 Highcliff Rd.
The ceremony involves mingling sacred smoke with the air to give blessings to the community of humans, birds and animals.
The Dalai Lama, who has visited Dunedin four times since the 1990s, is renowned across the world for his work as a peace advocate.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
In addition to the Dunedin Community Gallery exhibition and events, there will also be a display of Tibetan Buddhist statues, books and cultural items at the University of Otago Central Library, and another at the Dunedin Public Library.
