NEWS from NOV 13, 2000 - FEB 15, 2001

Monks and mandala.

 Tashidaley! (say outloud. Congratulations, you just said 'hello' in Tibetan! See, they said you'd learn stuff in college.)

Students for a Free Tibet, led by Julie Foxworthy, were lucky enough to bring in nine monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery from TheMystical Arts of Tibet tour for the week. Beginning on Monday the 12th, Monks (left) constructed a sand mandala in the atrium of the library.

Today is the final Day to view the mandala! Stop by any time during the day to view the mandala. This mandala eliminates obstacles and relieves suffering. It is a blessing for our community. As you look at the mandala, if you focus your thoughts on these points the power of the mandala will do its work for you. Come with good intentions, as the Tibetans believe this is the key to receiving the blessing.

See the closing ceremony in which the sand will be swept on and sent down river. The ceremony will begin at 4pm in the Olin Atrium.

Bring a jacket so you can join us as we walk down to the Kokosing following the consecration of the sands. The monks dump the sands into the river to send the healing energies throughout the world for the benefit of all sentient beings. 

To learn more, visit their website, or email Julie.
 

Students for a Free Tibet and the monks.

The monks WILL be selling their wares tomorrow, starting at about 3:30 or so, so bring your wallet as this is the last chance to purchase jewelery, prayer beads, katah, wall hangings and tee shirts.

"From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique and exquisite. In Tibetan this art is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which literally means 'mandala of colored powders.' Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days or weeks.

"Formed of a traditional prescribed iconography that includes geometric shapes and a multitude of ancient spiritual symbols, the sand-painted mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants."-The Mystical Arts of Tibet.

According to their website, "After the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 and the forced closure and destruction of its 6,500 monasteries, some 250 monks from Loseling managed to escape the holocaust and rebuild their institution in Karnataka State, South India. The traditional training program was thus preserved. Over the years many more young spiritual aspirants have fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought entrance into the monastery, thus helping to preserve their traditional culture. The number of monks presently in the re-established Drepung Loseling has increased to more than 2,500. "

The Drepung Monastery was originally established near Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 by Chojey Tashi Palden.

Abe Bonowitz Picture by Associated Press

Prominent death penalty abolitionist Abe Bonowitz will speak at Kenyon's Horn Gallery on Saturday, February 10.

Bonowitz is Director of Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a national non-profit organization which promotes positive dialog regarding capital punishment and invigorated tactical grassroots activism by the global death penalty abolition movement.

Bonowitz has been working to educate the public about human rights problems, in particular the death penalty and the need for alternatives to the death penalty, for over 12 years. But he only came to his position after arguing FOR the death penalty for almost a year in an attempt to disprove the facts presented by death penalty opponents. In addition to much interaction with communities directly involved and impacted by capital punishment, he has personally conducted extensive research on the issue by studying the academic and statistical research available from the government, scholars and various non-government organizations.

For the full story, visit the Citizens United For Alternatives to the Death Penalty website.

For more information email:spragensj@kenyon.edu

This weekend in Cincinatti: At the Columbia Performance Center at 3900 Eastern Avenue From 4-9pm Keynote Speaker:Tom Hansen from the Mexico Solidarity Network speaking on the history of the EZLN and the Human Rights Situation in Mexico (he will start at 4:30pm) Workshops: Peltier, Mumia Abu Jamal, Corporate Globalization and the Zapatistas, Sweatshops, Mobilization for Quebec 2001 (FTAA), the American Indian Mascot Issue. Also: Arrival of the Run for Freedom’s Zapatista Solidarity Runners, CZC Clothing and School Supply Drive for the Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, and Crow Creek Reservations (see below), Raffling of Rage Against the Machine T-shirt signed by band members and more, Showing of Zapatista! by Big Noise Films, a display of photos from Chiapas, Bash the NAFTA/FTAA and PRI/NEOLIBERALISM piñata pigs, Free Food and Drink, information booths, vendors and more!

Looking for a ride? Email Brian Poulin.

For a ride to see the hurricane email Julie Foxworthy, or Julia Hook.

In an ironic twist of funding, the Business and Finance Committee has ordered that the Kenyon Republicans give their 5 remaining seats to Activists United.

AU is therefore going in the Republican van, as well as in two other cars.  Email Eric Vazquez for more info, or show up in Gund Commons on tuesday JAN 13, 2001.