Mount Shasta Friends of Tibetan Culture

03/22/2025

Interesting; heart-opening ...

Hint: it isn't about them

03/14/2025

A Prayer for Peace

Today is the fifteenth day of the first month of the Tibetan Calendar, and the culmination of the annual Great Prayer Festival (Monlam Chenmo), a two-week-long festival that begins with the Tibetan New Year.

In accordance with our tradition of dedicating the merit gained from these prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings, this year too I fervently pray for greater peace and understanding in our world. It saddens me to see so many people suffering as a result of conflict, in Ukraine, in Gaza, and other parts of the world. By now we might have hoped that human beings would have learned from our history of violence. In all such conflicts, it is the innocent who bear the heaviest burden—living in fear, facing the loss of so much, even our lives, and constantly enduring the challenge of uncertainty.

One simple truth remains: every human being, each and every one of us, wishes not to suffer and only wants to be happy. If we recognize our shared humanity, recalling that the welfare of one depends on the welfare of all, I truly believe we can find a peaceful resolution to even the most intractable conflicts. But to do so requires a willingness to enter into dialogue and negotiation. I therefore appeal for concerted efforts to create a more compassionate, peaceful world free from violence.

With my prayers and good wishes,

The Dalai Lama
14 March 2025

03/10/2025

Washington Post Op-Ed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama - article can be viewed at https://wapo.st/3F88Xol

"On March 10, Tibetans everywhere in the free world will be commemorating the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising in Lhasa," The Dalai Lama writes.

"The right of the Tibetan people to be the custodians of their own homeland cannot be indefinitely denied, nor can their aspiration for freedom be crushed forever."

02/27/2025

HAPPY LOSAR 2025 ... Looking forward to seeing everyone at some wonderful upcoming events! Watch for newsletters; sign up to join email list at https://mountshastafriendsoftibetanculture.org/

02/23/2025

Save the Dates!

MSFOTC ANNUAL YARD SALE
June 13th-15th 2025

Please donate quality, easy to sell items. ALL money raised goes towards bringing Tibetan Monks and Tibetan Artists to Mount Shasta.

Details about location, times, drop off/pick up arrangements will be announced by June 1st.

Start setting aside items now! Thank You!!!
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MEDICINE BUDDHA SAND MANDALA AT THE HEADWATERS (Mount Shasta City Park)
September 13th - 21st 2025
VEN. LOSANG SAMTEN (Master of Sand Mandalas)

Details and reservations for the corresponding MEDICINE BUDDHA RETREAT will be available by August 1st.
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Tibetan Culture is known across the globe for deeply meaningful displays of dance, music and art, along with its teachings on compassion, forgiveness and tolerance.

Other events will be announced as they develop.

02/21/2025

His Holiness the Dalai Lama back at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on February 21, 2025, after a 7 week visit to the Tibetan Settlements in Bylakuppe and Hunsur in Karnataka, South India. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel

01/28/2025

Announcing the release of the new book Voice for the Voiceless: Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People will be available on March 11. “In my role as the Dalai Lama, there is no issue more important than what I describe in these pages. My hope is that the book will stimulate fresh thoughts and conversations today and provide a framework for the future of Tibet even after I am gone.” For more information, visit https://www.harpercollins.com/products/voice-for-the-voiceless-dalai-lama-1?variant=43452739518498

01/07/2025

https://www.dalailama.com/
Dalai Lama arrived in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India on January 5, 2025.
Sad news of an earthquake in Tibet today ... see inside for more details.

The Official Website of The Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

01/06/2025

Medicine Buddha day falls on (Tues, Jan 7) the 8th day of the lunar month. for those suffering from various temporary or critical illnesses, the practice of Medicine Buddha is extremely relevant and beneficial.

Tibetans ascribe great efficacy to the Medicine Buddha Mantra. Chanting this mantra promotes healing. Enhance medicines by chanting the mantra prior to takin...

12/30/2024

SAVE THE DATES: September 13 - 21, 2025
Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala at the Headwaters (Mount Shasta City Park) with Ven. Losang Samten (Master of Sand Mandalas) ... Are you on the email list? Click link below ...
https://mountshastafriendsoftibetanculture.org/contact.html
Sign up to receive emails!

12/10/2024

12/05/2024

A BIG THANK YOU! To everyone who supported Friends of Tibetan Culture on North State Giving Tuesday. If you were unable to do so on Dec. 3, we accept ongoing donations to support upcoming events in 2025 AND 2026. See website for more details

12/03/2024

Today is Northstate Giving Tuesday! We really appreciate your support for upcoming Tibetan Monk & Arts Tours in 2025!
We would like to thank the Josephine Taylor Endowment Fund and the Community Foundation of the North State for their generous support of the 2024 Sand Mandala.
See out NSGT page for more info and links to past events!

 Mount Shasta's Friends of Tibetan Culture is a California based 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization.   We strive to enrich our community by hosting the top Tibetan Buddhist scholars and artists available to the North State.   Tibetan Buddhism is not ‘New Age’, it...

12/02/2024

We sincerely hope you can join us for North State Giving Tuesday December 3rd.The monks are coming in 2025 along with your favorite Tibetan artists! Funds raised provide monks/artists with food, lodging and transportation ... SAVE THESE DATES: Spring 2025 - Internationally acclaimed Sacred Earth and Healing Arts of Tibet Tour will return with Geshe Phuntsho ... Sept 13th - 21st: Losang Samten will return to create a Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala at the Headwaters

11/27/2024

Thank you to those who have donated early to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser! Giving Tuesday is December 3rd, but you are welcome to donate anytime before then

 Mount Shasta's Friends of Tibetan Culture is a California based 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization.   We strive to enrich our community by hosting the top Tibetan Buddhist scholars and artists available to the North State.   Tibetan Buddhism is not ‘New Age’, it...

11/25/2024

"North State Giving Tuesday starts and ends Dec 3rd!"
Link to NS Giving Tuesday page for FOTC:
https://www.northstategives.org/organization/Friends-Of-Tibetan-Culture

Link direct to the FOTC donation page:
https://www.northstategives.org/donate/Friends-Of-Tibetan-Culture

Visit our website often for updates:
https://mountshastafriendsoftibetanculture.org/
Sign up to join our email list and be the first to know about some exciting upcoming events for 2025!

☸︎ September 13 - 21, 2025
Ven. Losang Samten (Master of Sand Mandalas)
Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala at the Headwaters
(Mount Shasta) September 13 - 21, 2025

☸️ DATES TBA:
The 2025 Gaden Shartse Monastery Sacred Earth and Healing Arts Tour w/ Ven. Geshe Phuntsho

https://mountshastafriendsoftibetanculture.org/

11/25/2024

We would like to thank the Josephine Taylor Endowment Fund
and the Community Foundation of the North State
for their generous support of the 2024 Sand Mandala.
We are eternally Grateful!

11/25/2024

It's that time of year to support your favorite 501(c)3 non-profits.
We sincerely hope you can join us in bringing the Arts and Culture of Tibet to our great communities of the North State.
Click link below to read our Giving Tuesday Newsletter!
https://mailchi.mp/22fbd0ce9d55/2025-season-and-north-state-giving-tuesday?e=e98f62578a

11/23/2024

Today we celebrate the return of Lord Buddha from the heavenly realm of Tush*ta, where he taught the holy Dharma to his mother and the gods. The Buddha descended back to earth to benefit all beings and continue sharing the path to liberation. May this auspicious day inspire each and every one of us to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and peace in our hearts.

11/04/2024

Just wanted to share a lovely Chenrizeg / Avalokiteshwara Chant

'Mani Monlam' - the profound aspiration prayer centered around the Six-Syllable Mantra of Avalokiteśvara (known as Lama Chenresi in Tibetan). Dive deep into ...

11/03/2024

Sally Vering shared some wonderful photos of our recent event with sand mandala master, Losang Samten

10/30/2024

So many from the community are sharing photos and videos of this most amazing event of the creation and dissolution of a "Community Chenrezig Buddha of Compassion" sand mandala over the past week (10/19 - 10/27/24) ... so much love and energy has been shared at the Mt Shasta City Park and Mt Shasta Public Library ... let's keep the compassion growing for the Peace and Well-Being of All!

10/28/2024

Beautiful dissolution of the Chenrezig sand mandala today ... visit Mount Shasta Friends of Tibetan Culture for more info & photos. Sign up for emails at: https://www.mountshastafriendsoftibetanculture.org/contact.html

10/28/2024

Mixing all the sand together with our hands; participants received small envelopes to scoop up small amounts of sand. The only sand taken to the river was a small amount of unmixed Mount Shasta Sand.

10/28/2024

Over 100 people attended the dissolution ceremony today; the only sand added to the river was local, uncolored sand from Mount Shasta; those present received small envelopes to scoop up the mixed sand.

10/26/2024

For more information about sand mandalas – what they are and why they are created – visit Losang Samten's lovely website:
Also, see Losang Samten's lovely website, full of info on Tibetan Buddhist practices, including a wonderful page explaining sand mandalas:

The Tibetan art form of sand painting is an ancient and sacred practice intended to uplift and benefit not only every person who sees it, but also to bless the environment. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle, and in Tibetan is called kyil-khor, which means essence and circle. Every aspect of....

10/26/2024

Today was the final day to finish the Community Chenrezig-Buddha of Compassion sand mandala, and once again, Ven. Losang Samten invited the community to add their loving touches! The final ring of the mandala is comprised of clouds; he drew the outlines for the green clouds and encouraged those present to "team up" and add green sand to the drawings ... YA-HOO! (our new mantra, LOL!) :D

10/25/2024

Thursday, 10/24 at the Lower Lodge: one more day to go! Register for the Chenrezig weekend retreat with Losang Samten; attend the dissolution of the mandala on Sunday at 3pm.