February 11, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shawn Mansager
(805) 550-7577
smansage@calpoly.edu

Monks To Provide Glimpse Into Ancient, Modern Tibet

SAN LUIS OBISPO – A group of 10 monks will present “A Tibetan Cultural Pageant” to provide a glimpse into ancient and modern Tibet at 7 p.m. March 5 in the Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., in San Luis Obispo.

The event, a benefit to raise money for the Drepung Gomang Monastery in Tibet, will include Tibetan dances and chants of traditional prayers. In addition, a narrated slide presentation depicting typical Tibetan scenes will show the daily lives of the monks living in the Drepung Gomang Monastery.

The monks are planning several fund-raising events the first week in March at several locations in and near San Luis Obispo. They will give presentations to students in some Cal Poly classes.

The events are being held to help preserve the Tibetan culture and establish a food bank for the students studying and living at the monastery, according to Cal Poly education student and event organizer Shawn Mansager. The monastery was originally built in 1416 at Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. After the 1959 Chinese invasion of Tibet, the monastery was rebuilt under the direction of the Dalai Lama in southern India.

During the week of March 1-7, an art display and sale will be held at Linnaea’s, 1110 Garden St. in downtown San Luis Obispo. Additional events include:

- March 2, 7-9 p.m. – Ritual Dance Demonstration, San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, 6996 Ontario Road, Avila Valley.

- March 4, 6-9 p.m. – Tibetan Buddhist Art Sale, Farmers’ Market, San Luis Obispo.

- March 5, 5:30-7 p.m. – Slide Show and Ritual Dance Demonstration, Yoga Center, 1880 Santa Barbara St., Suite A-4, San Luis Obispo.
- March 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tibetan Buddhist Art Demonstration, San Luis Obispo Art Center, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

- March 7, 12:30-2 p.m. – Ritual Dance and White Tara Blessing, Yoga Center, 1880 Santa Barbara St., San Luis Obispo.

Tickets to the March 5 event at the Odd Fellows Hall are $10 to $15 and can be bought at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo. Donations will be accepted at the door for the other events.

Sponsors of the events include Cal Poly’s Social Sciences Department and University Center for Teacher Education as well as the Days Inn and Boo Boo Records. For more information, contact Mansager at 550-7577 or smansage@calpoly.edu. More information is also available online at www.gomang.org.
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