The Tibetan community and friends will host three days of events and rituals at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium this week that will culminate with a celebration of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday Sunday, March 30.
Co-hosted by the Gyuto Foundation in Richmond and the U.S. Monlam Festival, the birthday celebration will occur at the conclusion of annual Monlam Prayer Festivals for world peace. Events are free and open to all and will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 28-30 at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. One need not be Buddhist to attend. While all events and rituals will occur in Tibetan, English translation will be made available for attendees who bring an FM radio with headphones. Lunch and dinner will be provided to attendees.
About 100 Tibetan monks and nuns are expected to join similar events across the U.S. In Richmond, esteemed scholars and abbots Kyabje Jangtse Choeje Rinpoche and Kyabje Sharpa Choeje Rinpoche will preside over the Monlam Prayer Festival and birthday celebrations.Â
“We are so happy that these events have coincided with The Gyuto Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, which we will also be celebrating on April 5,” said Thupten Donyo, the founder of the Gyuto Foundation. “We warmly welcome everyone to our center on April 5 in East
Richmond Heights.”
Gyuto Foundation is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located at 6401 Bernhard Ave. dedicated to preserving Tibet’s living culture and spiritual heritage through public teachings and cultural programmings. The Foundation also offers paths and gardens of the monastery grounds as a public space, supports charitable programs for Himalayan children and provides community outreach to Tibetans living in the Bay Area and new immigrants.
Anyone who would like more information about this program, contact Thupten Donyo at 510-674-6000 or [email protected].
