The quiet coastal town of Yachats will soon become the setting for a centuries-old spiritual tradition as Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Phukhang Monastery arrive to celebrate the Tibetan Lunar New Year with a series of public ceremonies, workshops, and cultural events.
Hosted by the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Lincoln County Friends of Tibet, the weeklong residency will take place from Tuesday, February 17, through Sunday, February 22, at Yachats Commons, 441 Highway 101 North. The visit is part of a broader three-week Oregon Coast tour that also includes stops in Lincoln City and Newport.
At the heart of the visit is the creation of an Avalokiteshvara Sand Mandala, an intricate and sacred art form that represents the celestial palace of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Avalokiteshvara is regarded as the embodiment of boundless compassion and is believed by many Tibetans to be the incarnation lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Throughout the week, visitors will be able to observe the monks as they construct the mandala grain by grain. Using narrow metal funnels known as chak-pur, the monks carefully place colored sand into precise geometric patterns. The process is both highly disciplined and deeply meditative. Public viewing will be available daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering community members a rare opportunity to witness a sacred ritual that blends art, spirituality, and philosophy.
The timing of the residency coincides with Losar, the Tibetan Lunar New Year, observed this year from February 18 through February 20. Several traditional ceremonies will mark the celebration. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Sand Mandala Opening and Heart Sutra Puja will formally begin the week’s events. A Tsok Offering ceremony will follow on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and the Green Tara Puja is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. Each ceremony reflects key aspects of Tibetan Buddhist practice, including gratitude, compassion, and the cultivation of wisdom.
Additional programming throughout the week invites the public to engage more directly with Tibetan spiritual and cultural traditions. On Friday morning at 10 a.m., a Lojong, or mind training, workshop will explore practical approaches to developing compassion and resilience. That evening at 6:30 p.m., the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment Ceremony for Great Compassion will be held.
Saturday’s schedule includes a Butter Sculpture Workshop and a Tibetan Calligraphy Demonstration, followed by an evening Cultural Night featuring chant, music, a Chöd ceremony, monastic debate, and a question-and-answer session. Organizers say the goal is to create meaningful cultural exchange while preserving the authenticity of monastic practice.
On Sunday, February 22, events will extend beyond Yachats. At 12:30 p.m., the monks will host Lunch with the Monks and a guided Meditation on Peace and Compassion at St. Luke by the Sea Episcopal Church in Waldport. The residency will conclude later that afternoon at 4 p.m. at Yachats Commons with the Sand Mandala Dissolution Ceremony.
The dissolution is a central and symbolic moment. After days of meticulous work, the monks will sweep the sand into a single pile, emphasizing the Buddhist teaching on impermanence. Attendees will receive small packets of the blessed sand as reminders of compassion and the transient nature of life.
All events are open to the public on a suggested donation basis. Proceeds will support education, housing, medical care, and sanitation for monks at the monastery in southern India.
Organizers encourage residents and visitors alike to take part in what promises to be a unique cultural and spiritual gathering along the Oregon Coast. Additional information is available at LCFriendsofTibet.org or by contacting Lincoln County Friends of Tibet directly.