Fire ceremony, sacred mandala mark Buddhist monks’ visit and celebrations

Laguna Beach’s Neighborhood Congregational Church is the epicenter of this week’s celebration honoring a group of Buddhist monks.

For four years, the church has sponsored visits from Tibetan Buddhist monks, providing support and housing, according to the church’s website. This group is from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in southern India.

Since Tuesday, they have been working on a sacred mandala made of grains of colored sand to elicit purification and healing.

On Wednesday night the monks gathered for a cleansing ceremony called a fire puja, which is supposed to remove obstacles and improve health, the church’s website says.

At 7 p.m. Friday, monks will participate in a cultural pageant featuring prayer, a good-luck dance and chanting of praise.

The weeklong celebration will conclude with a 10 a.m. worship service Sunday at the church.

Following the service, the monks and the Rev. B.J. Beu will lead a processional to the beach for a dissolution ceremony of the mandala into the ocean as a reminder of people’s impermanence, according to the website.

The public will be able to speak with the monks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive.

“They love to interact,” said Pam Wicks, the church’s music director.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce