Pilgrimage info

For pilgrimage info, please contact the following email address sakya@tpg.com.au

Tibetan Sand Mandala

In the year 2002, through the kindness of Ven. Geshe Sangey Thinley (Geshe-la), New Zealand was blessed with an event that saw 15 Chenrezig Sand Mandalas constructed throughout our beautiful land, over an extra-ordinary year-long period.

Through this huge and significant project, over 230 000 people came in touch with the Chenrezig Mandala, ~ the Cosmic seed of Compassion ~ the message of World Peace and Compassion and the rich culture of Tibet.

The ‘Mandala Tour' resulted in deep connections with many community groups; organisations and people from all walks of life during the course of this 12 month long tour.

This ancient Tibetan practice is for the sole purpose of generating love and compassion, with the ultimate goal of world peace. The knowledge and expertise needed to make the mandala comes from years of training, study and discipline.

Through Ven. Geshe Sangey Thinley (Geshe-la), Resident Teacher of Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling Buddhist Centre in Whangarei, senior monks Jamyang Sherab and Sonam Norbu were requested to take leave from their monastic studies at Sera Je Monastery in India to come and construct Chenrezig Sand Mandalas throughout New Zealand .

This event was also made possible through the support of sponsors, benefactors, volunteers – and sincere interest shown by New Zealanders.

Following on from the Sand Mandala tour, at Ven. Geshe Sangey Thinley's heartfelt request and wish that the special connections made in 2002 be maintained and nourished, a Mandala Re-Connection Tour' was organised. '

In 2003 Geshe-la with the assistance of Karma Gyaltsen and Tsering Samdup, re-visited each Mandala site to re-connect with each place and to meet once again with all the people who were involved with each Mandala event and maintain the moments.

"The purpose of the construction of a mandala – either drawn by hand or with sand, is to receive ‘special blessings'. It is through this special energy, one can attain special qualities within one's own mind. It is through these special qualities that one gains wisdom, and through this wisdom, one gains happiness.”

-Ven. Geshe Sangey Thinley