Los Angeles Times

Saturday, August 16, 1997

By NONA YATES

Ten Tibetan Buddhist monks, or lamas, from the Ganden Jangtse Monastery will be visiting Los Angeles and Orange counties this month to share their heritage and generate support for their monastery in southern India.

The Joyful Wisdom Tour, hosted locally by the Land of Compassion Buddha in Rowland Heights, will feature the music, dance, debate and ritual of Tibetan Buddhism.

The original Ganden Jangtse Monastery was established in 1409 in Lhasa, at one time housing 7,000 lamas, the second-largest monastery in Tibet. Thousands of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and temples have been destroyed by the Chinese government since its invasion of that Himalayan kingdom in 1959. Millions of Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, have fled to India, where many monasteries have been rebuilt.

Noted chef and restaurateur Yujean Kang will host a fund-raising event to benefit the 2,000 monks of the monastery over three days.

Monks will create a sand mandala painting at Yujean Kang's on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Vegetarian lunches will be served for $30 per person, with 50% of the proceeds going to the monastery. On Thursday, Geshe Yeshe Gyaltsen will offer a Medicine Buddha Empowerment ceremony at 4 p.m. Donation is $25.

A Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala Blessing ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a Tibetan/Chinese dinner.

Evening events include the lamas performing ritual Tantric dances, music and a traditional Buddhist debate, followed by commentary and concluding with the story of the Buddha's enlightenment. The cost is $175 per person, with 70% of the proceeds benefiting the monks. (310) 288-0806.

Other area events include an introduction to Buddhist Sutrayana and Tantrayana and a Vajrapani Empowerment Ceremony by Geshe Gyaltsen at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in West Hollywood at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Donation is $25. (310) 659-1733.

The Joyful Wisdom Tour will continue Saturday with an evening of Tibetan music, dance and debate in Avery Auditorium at Pitzer College, 1050 N. Mills Ave., Claremont, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. (626) 457-2732.

The series will move to Orange County Aug. 28 with the creation of a White Tara Sand Mandala at UC Irvine; music and dance performances Aug. 29 and a blessing ceremony Aug. 30. (626) 457-2732