Take it to the river.

August 6, 2015 by Jennie Lay

The Drepung Loseling monks send the Green Tara mandala down the Yampa River during the water ceremony in front of the Bud Werrner Memorial Library.
The Drepung Loseling monks send the Green Tara mandala down the Yampa River during the water ceremony in front of the Bud Werrner Memorial Library.

Bidding her farewell to Library Hall, the Drepung Loseling monks paraded the sandy remains of Green Tara and her mandala to the Yampa River. She traveled in a conch-topped urn. Two Tibetan horns led the way out of the Bud Werner Memorial Library, across the bridge and down to the riverside where natural mineral springs bubble from the rocks and mingle with the flowing river's snowmelt.

Dark and stormy clouds threatened to burst into a Rocky Mountain downpour. Thankfully, the weather gave the monks reprieve for Green Tara's water ceremony. But, is it a coincidence that this little storm cycle ended the following afternoon with a record-breaking dump of 1" of rain within an hour, followed by one of the Yampa Valley's most epic double rainbows we've ever seen? We think not.

Steamboat Springs' mandala now travels down the Yampa River, to the Green, the Colorado and the Pacific Ocean, where she will spread compassion and abundance around the world before being absorbed into the clouds to rain down upon us once again. It's a beautiful wish and a clear intention. Our deepest gratitude goes out to the Drepung Loseling monks for sharing this experience of great beauty with the library and the Steamboat community.

Too-je-che! (That's a heartfelt thank you, in Tibetan.)

The monks exit Library Hall, heading for the Yampa River with the sandy remains of the Green Tara mandala in an urn.
The monks exit Library Hall, heading for the Yampa River with the sandy remains of the Green Tara mandala in an urn.
The Green Tara mandala is paraded down 13th Street, along the edge of the library and toward the river.
The Green Tara mandala is paraded down 13th Street, along the edge of the library and toward the river.
Tibetan horns announce the mandala's crossing over the Yampa River's 13th Street bridge.
Tibetan horns announce the mandala's crossing over the Yampa River's 13th Street bridge.
The monks and the mandala arrive at the water's edge in front of the Yampa River's rushing C-Hole.
The monks and the mandala arrive at the water's edge in front of the Yampa River's rushing C-Hole.
Farewell, Green Tara
Farewell, Green Tara
The monks chant at the river prior to sending the mandala into the rapids.
The monks chant at the river prior to sending the mandala into the rapids.
The Green Tara mandala flows into the flow of the Yampa River.
The Green Tara mandala flows into the flow of the Yampa River.
Five days. Six monks. The creation and destruction of a beautiful Green Tara sand mandala. The monks' work is done in Steamboat Springs, for now.
Five days. Six monks. The creation and destruction of a beautiful Green Tara sand mandala. The monks' work is done in Steamboat Springs, for now.