If you want to see a Tibetan Buddhist procession and participate in an authentic celebration like the one described in my China Road Dispatch you might consider attending the Second Annual Medicine Buddha Festival at Land of Medicine Buddha on Saturday, June 19, 12:00 pm.
Actually, it’s Tibetan-California fusion. Tibetan Horns, drums and cymbals will anounce the colorful Medicine Buddha Procession and inaugurate the Festival Day. Everyone is invited to attend and join in bell ringing and chanting as the Medicine Buddha thangka makes its way to the meadow, where Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dakpa will lead a Medicine Buddha Puja. Other festival activities: the Unity Choir, teachings and offerings, children’s activities, Tara School Children’s Choir, Samshug Pundha (traditional Tibetan performers), massage, reiki, energy work, Himalayan crafts bazaar, and California and traditional Tibetan cuisine.
This place is lovely, hidden away in the redwoods of Soquel just South of Santa Cruz, California. You can motorcycle down Highway 1, or through the Santa Cruz mountains, through some very pretty countryside. On the property are traditional prayer wheels and stupas, and there is a trail that connects to Nicene Marks Forest. I believe it’s a 3 or 4 hour round-trip hike. I’ve only had a chance to hike 1/2 hour in. (Lots of banana slugs!)
A retreat center, you might stay there for the night, if they’re not full. There are also plenty of accomodations in Soquel and Santa Cruz and the weather is lovely, though summer fog does tend to hug the beach all morning long.
For more information call 831-462-8383 or lmb@medicinebuddha.org
Fee: Free
