By HILLARY GUBLER
ST. GEORGE – Tibetan Buddhist monks dressed in deep maroon robes chanted an opening prayer Wednesday evening in Kayenta to bring positive influences for their prepared lecture.
Geshe Tsultrim Gyasto, from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, spoke to the gathering about the psychology of enlightenment by means of his interpreter, Tenzin Phentok.
The group is one of two that has left the Tibetan monastery for an 18-month world tour — visiting Europe, the United States, Mexico and Canada. After its tour, the group will return to their monastery and resume their studies.
Midge Henline, who has hosted monk tours since September 1999, said the first time she heard Tibetan monks perform she felt something in her heart.
“It’s a wonderful reminder of the positive effect it has on one’s life to not have anger … (rather) to consider others with love and compassion,” Henline said.
And Henline said she tries to host the monks as often as their travel schedule allows, which has been a couple of times a year. The monks will offer performances today, continuing through Sunday.
During his lecture, Gyasto focused on unity and purification to achieve personal enlightenment. He said development of good qualities — such as love and compassion — can help decrease feelings of hatred.
“True loving kindness can counteract hatred,” he said.
Gyasto said that even small annoyances should be bridled so that they do not turn into stronger emotions.
St. George resident John Misrasi said he agreed with Gyastro’s philosophy with the mind being the sixth sense because the mind tells the other senses how to react.
Misrasi said it was interesting to listen and learn about the Tibetan culture and that the lecture was relative to Southern Utah residents.
“It’s not unlike Christianity,” Misrasi said. “(We) were born here pure. We spend our life here messing that up.”
Henline said the tour aims at promoting world peace, harmony and healing, generating awareness of the Tibetan culture and raising money for the monastery and refugee community in India.
If You Go
The Tibetan Buddhist monks will offer lectures at the following locations throughout the week:
- Today, 7 p.m., Coyote Gulch Art Village Community Room, Kayenta Parkway, Kayenta in Ivins.
- Friday, 7 p.m., Fatali School House of Photography, 38 E. Main (SR-9) Rockville.
- Saturday, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Angels Landing (natural amphitheater) two miles off Hwy. 89 on Kanab Canyon Road, Kanab.
- Sunday, 4 p.m. Thupten Choling Dharma Center, 340 W. 200 North, LaVerkin.
HILLARY GUBLER – hgubler@thespectrum.com
