Seven monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, will deliver a presentation on death and dying in Tibetan Buddhism. The monks will present a short lecture along with a demonstration of specific rituals, prayers, and dances related to death and dying.
The presentation and demonstration will occur Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in Sussman Theater, 2875 University Ave. The free event is a part of Drake University’s Comparison Project 2015-2017 series on Death and Dying, which explores theologies and rituals of death from the perspective of more than a dozen religious scholars, medical practitioners, and other individuals from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds.
The monks are touring the United States in 2015-2016 to teach dharma, educate the public about the culture and religion of Tibet, and to raise funds for their monastery. The tour is being coordinated by the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the third such tour by the monastery.
The Comparison Project is an experimental effort in religiously diverse philosophy of religion. It is generously supported by the Drake University Center for the Humanities, Humanities Iowa, the Medbury Fund, the Drake University Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship, the Des Moines Area Religious Council, and Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation, and our special series sponsor for our programming on death and dying, Iles Funeral Homes.