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  7th Annual Peace Festival: Spirituality, Health, and the Environment

Saturday, September 10, 2011 11am-8pm

"We are all gathered annually to celebrate the Peace Garden’s creation. In the future, the Garden will remain open to all to come to pray with expanded minds. Ultimately our collective hope and prayer is that all sentient beings’ happiness is increased, that their sufferings are reduced, and that all the obstacles are removed and that everyone finds a path towards liberation. So let us all join in this effort!"

Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche

Join us for the 7th Annual Festival of Peace on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 11am-8pm at The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, MT. This year's event will begin with the 1st Annual Walk-A-Mile for Peace where participants will gain pledges to raise money for the Garden by walking the one-mile long driveway circumambulating the entire Ewam property. Contact Raquel Castellanos at 406-824-0923 and see below for further details. A ceremonial Tibetan Buddhist procession will follow at 12:30pm. The Drum Brothers musical group will kick off the day's entertainment at 1pm. The headlining musical act is a 4-piece funky acoustic group from San Francisco, Alma Desnuda. From violinists to belly dancers to Native drummers, the festival will feature a wide variety of styles of dance, music, and more. DOWNLOAD PDF of PEACE FEST

Speakers will discuss the planet, human health, and how we can create a more peaceful world in turbulent times. Interfaith panels, guest speakers, and blessings from indigenous people from Tibet and America will come together to pray for peace and harmony. Food vendors, information tables, native games and crafts, along with spiritual items, clothing and jewelry sellers will round out the festival atmosphere on the Garden grounds. Volunteers and sponsors are needed to help setup and take part in the event. Contact Ewam at 406-726-0555 for more information.

For the last six years, Rinpoche and the Ewam Montana sangha have hosted a peace festival in Arlee, MT. Each year we bring the surrounding community together to celebrate Peace at the site of the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas. This special place has been dedicated to Peace and, when completed, will display 1,000 Buddha statues, 1,000 trees, 1,000 stupas, medicinal plants, a reflective pond, walkways and benches. Currently, in the center stands a 24-foot statue of the mother of all buddhas, Prajnaparamita (Tib. Yum Chenmo) and four buddhas sitting on thrones in each of the four directions. This year, just in time for the Festival, the long awaited ten throne walls have been completed. For more information on the Garden, please visit www.ewambuddhagarden.com.

This Garden is being built for everyone, as a refuge, and as a potent symbol of the innate human nature of love and compassion. This garden will help create Peace. It is to be a center for people from all religions and walks of life to gather and reflect on our ability and duty to be peacemakers. The means to acquire peace in our lives and world may be debated, but the goal of peace is shared by everyone. We hope that you may be able to participate in any way possible. We sincerely believe that events and inspirational opportunities like this one are important. We can make a difference. Please join with us in creating peace in the world.                 

Walk -A-Mile for Peace 

 A benefit in support of the Garden of 1000 Buddhas

Please join us for our 1^st Annual one-mile walk, to raise funds for the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas.  Families with children are welcome.  Sorry no dogs or pets. We ask that each participant gather sponsors for their participation.  Ask 10 friends to support your walk with $10.00. (You are welcome to gather more sponsors!) All sponsorship donations are tax-deductible. Bring your sponsorship donations with you on September 10^th to the walk. To register: www.destinationmissoula.org/Ewampeacewalk. Or contact Raquel Castellanos:  development@ewam.org (406) 824-0938. Download PDF of PEACE WALK

The walk is designed as a Meditative Peace walk.  At each quarter mile, you are encouraged to pause and reflect at the ¼ mile markers on one of THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES:  Compassion, Love, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity.  Each participant will be given a handout with these traditional Buddhist concepts, which help us all to turn our minds toward peace and assist us in cultivating inner-peace and peace in our world.

Check in at Ewam 10-10:45am and walk begins at 11am