Chaydrol Healing Ceremony

Join the monks of Gaden Shartse for a special Ched Drol Healing Ritual. Ched Drol means “to make free of obstacles” and is a ritual for removing the obstacles that hold us back and prevent us from achieving enlightenment. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to participate in this ritual with the venerable monks of Gaden Shartse.

The ritual evokes the sacred energy of a wrathful emanation of Green Tara. Green Tara is represented through a beautiful and simple torma or butter sculpture. This is a complex ritual, involving a lot of audience participation: There is 1) the recitation of Tara’s mantra, Om Tara Tutara Ture Soha; 2) verses of supplication, asking Tara to clear obstacles; 3) a cord of rainbow colors and silver string that runs across our body to the floor, helping to draw out negativity; 4) the sprinkling of Tara’s nectar; 5) a piece of dough, used to absorb negative energy all across the body, shaped into a handprint, given back to the universe; 6) a black piece of fabric, used to absorb negative energy from the body, given back to the universe; 7) a white piece of fabric, which rested upon our shoulder, which represented the receiving of blessings; 8) a rainbow cord, tied around our necks, representing protection.

This colorful and elaborate ceremony/ritual is just one of many other presentations, ceremonies and other cultural sharings (including the construction of the Manjushri Sand Mandala) that the Tibetan monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery will be doing during their two week residency at the Diamond Springs Center for Healing.