‘Meet and Greet’ Kicks Off the Visit 12-4 p.m. at Telluride Farmers Market

The Monks of the Gaden Shartse Monastery will be coming to Telluride Friday, Aug. 15 through Monday, Aug. 18, hosting a series of events throughout the weekend.

The Gaden Shartse Monastery was founded in Tibet in the mid-1400s (its adherents are now exiled in India) as a learning center “dedicated to developing practices to inner peace and compassion,” according to the group’s website (www.gadenshartsetour.org).

Its tours send Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelugpa order to precipitate a cultural exchange of the Tibetan arts throughout the world, including exhibitions of the creation of sand mandalas, cultural and folk dances, healing empowerments and teachings of the dharma.

The monks kick off their visit Friday at the Telluride Farmers Market, on Oak Street, with what organizers have dubbed a “meet and greet,” from 12-4 p.m.

They will then lead a meditation session at the Telluride Yoga Center from 4:45-5:45 p.m., followed by a free concert from Taj Mahal at 6 p.m. in the Mountain Village.

On Saturday, the monks will stage a Tara Puja Ceremony from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Town of Ophir (in the park adjacent to Ophir Town Hall), followed by a picnic from 12-2 p.m., and finally a Dharma Talk on “The Four Noble Truths” from 7-9 p.m. at the Yoga Center, back in Telluride.

Sunday features a screening of the documentary Dalai Lama Renaissance in the Program Room of the Wilkinson Public Library from 3-5 p.m., followed by a Question and Answer Session and, finally, a Purification Ceremony from 7-9 p.m. at the Yoga Center. The monks will conclude their Telluride tour with an Empowerment Ceremony at a location to be determined from 7-9 p.m. on Monday.

The monks are available for individual sessions and consultations by appointment both Sunday and Monday. Though there is no admission to the events, the Monks of the Gaden Shartse Monastery do request a donation at each event, to help raise funds for their new hospital.

Those interested are encouraged to visit the monastery’s website at www.gadenshartsetour.org or come by the Farmer’s Market for more details.

For more information, please call the Telluride Yoga Center at 970-729-1673.