Tashi Delek!
These are photos from a blessing ceremony conducted at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove. Pacific Grove has one of the largest monarch overwintering sites in the United States. At one time, many thousands of these butterflies would congregate and cluster in trees, completely covering the trunks and branches. Unfortunately, butterfly populations have dwindled over the past several years and their future is uncertain.
I am so happy to take the opportunity to hold a blessing ceremony for the monarch butterflies. This is the 7th year that I have held a blessing at the butterfly sanctuary. In Tibet, the butterfly is regarded as a very special creature. Blessings are not only important for the butterflies themselves, but also for the entire ecosystem and the community of people living here. I have lived in Pacific Grove for many years now, and am happy to do whatever I can for this town which I consider my home.
The event was originally held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at the PG Monarch Sanctuary, and was covered in the Cedar Street Times, the local Pacific Grove newspaper. Scroll down to see the article: https://cedarstreettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/10-23-20-web.pdf
written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, originally posted to the MDC facebook page; photos by Miles McBreen and Bob Pacheli
