By Jamie Kinscherff

The Tibetan Gaden Shartse Monks visited Hays County Saturday as part of their North American tour. The monks, based in Southern India, shared an Empowerment Ceremony – a Blessing of Wisdom for the community – at The Plant at Kyle, a gathering venue 10 miles east of Wimberley. 

The tour is a fund-raising effort on the monks’ behalf to support their monastery and some large projects they are trying to complete in southern India. The monks have been based in India since being forced out of Tibet by the Chinese Liberation Army in the 1950s. There was a suggested donation of $20 toward these goals.

In recent times, the monks have become homeless and been forced to live apart. Their trip to the United States to share their story, culture and paths to inner peace was aided by seed money from the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama also found land for the future site of the monks’ projects and prayer hall. Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D., the primary English interpreter for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is the principal liaison for this tour; several of his students are accompanying the monks.

At the Blessing event, the monks offered jewelry and religious items from India, Nepal and their homeland, Tibet. 

More on the Gaden Shartse Monks can be found at www.tibetanmonktour.org or at www.facebook.com/monksofgadenshartse.