Coinciding with the Living Rivers Festival, the Gyuto Monks of Tibet conducted a 10 day cultural program at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A sand mandala, the Mandala of Chakrasamvara, the Mother Mandala, was created and, at the end of the visit, swept up and dissolved into the Derwent River from the decks of the Windwarde Bound sailing vessel, as a symbol of impermanence and non attachment to material things.

Thousands of people visited the monks, attending their various workshops and morning prayer ceremonies, and viewing the gradual creation of the mandala.

The Living Rivers Festival Committee kindled the initial interest in the monks visit, having 'phoned Gyuto House and made the invitation in August 1999. In thanking the Committee, Master Jumpa Tashi said: "The cause that you represent is the symbolic key to what we stand for in our own struggle. We remain united commonly pursuing the same thing which at the end of the day represents the good of humanity, other than what our own individual rivers may be".

On Monday 13^th March, one of the monks, Tensin Karma, travelled out to the Huon-Serpentine Impoundment and, before a group of 25 people who were on a field trip as part of the Living Rivers Forum. Tensin blessed the water; lamented the loss of Lake Pedder and called on the waters to recede. It was a very moving ceremony and on Friday 17^th March the Living Rivers Festival Committee had the opportunity to seek a meaning to the chant from Master Jumpa Tashi:

"According to Tibetan belief, there are some Buddhist teachings that the land, the river, the mountain are not just specifically belonging to human beings, many different beings inhabit them. From the river's and the lake's point of view, you must empower the spirit that exists and acts as the custodian of that lake in particular. So, Tensin's chanting prayer was to enable and empower, with the support of the spirituality of the monks power, to enable it to face its own struggle to maintain the spirit of the lake. If you believe that has been done, then other things will be easier, in out struggle. In out Tibetan case, it would be a long time to see any tangible benefit there. However we are not bitter, we are not angry, for we accept it as part of the sad happenings of human lives. If you look into history of humanity, many races have come, many races have gone and Tibetan case is no different to that. However it does not lessen the pain and suffering; it does not mean for us not to struggle and fight for its survival and justice and fairness, but in a most loving, caring, sharing, even taking account of forgiveness of you enemy and that you may not necessarily agree with. At the end of the day if you can come to see from the spiritual point of view, the tactical point of view, it is a good thing to believe. We adopt the non-violence.

"The monks have said prayers to put the sands in the rivers, to rejuvenate the burnt-out forests that they may regenerate and grow spectacular like it used to be. The monks say their prayers for Lake Pedder, that it be free, not only for the human beings themselves, but for the good of all other communities. That is the idea of the chant on behalf of the other monks, but they also did it from their own point of view while they were here (in the Tasmanian Museum) doing their morning meditations. Because its all metaphysical it makes no difference that they were doing it at that level at the same time.

"From the Gyuto monastery's perspective, thankyou very much for bringing us here ...we are having a great time and it is good for everybody. Hopefully through that, it also makes your struggle of freeing Pedder easier. When you think of your own struggle think also of the Tibetan struggle, the Dalai Lama's struggle to free Tibet, not only for the good of the Tibetan people but for the good of humanity. From our monastery we remain connected to you cause. Our relationship will continue."

"The sponsorship by Pedder 2000 of a Gyuto monk is a way of continuing the connection, a beautiful gift from you to them." Maureen Fallon