Tibetan Monks Return To BCCC; Cultural Showcase Is Wednesday

NEWTOWN, PA — Tibetan monks have returned to Bucks County Community College, and several public events are planned this week. The Tibetan Buddhist Monk Residency, Sand Mandala and Cultural Showcase goes through Friday, Sept. 16 at the college’s Newtown campus.

Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery in India will create a large sand mandala sculpture in the Solarium room in the Rollins Center. Handmade crafts will be available for a donation.

There will also be a Cultural Showcase on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., featuring temple instruments and richly costumed song and dance. The performance takes place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center, located inside the Gateway Center building.

Although admission is free, attendees are asked to register for free tickets at www.bucks.edu/tickets.

A closing ceremony, during which the sand mandala will be carefully swept up during prayerful meditation, begins at noon Friday, Sept. 20 in the Solarium. The monks will gather the sand and walk to Tyler State Park, located behind the campus, to scatter the sand into the Neshaminy Creek.

This is the third time the college has hosted a residency by the Tibetan Buddhist Monks. The monks also visited in 2002 and 2016.

All events are free and open to the public.

The campus is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown.

For more information, visit www.bucks.edu/live or call 215-968-8087.