Compassion Tour

FRIDAY, Aug. 15 – It started with a trip to a psychic about a leg injury.

It's ending with a troupe of Tibetan monks coming to Lansing offering a healing meditation ceremony.

That's literally how Minister Linda Mogyoros wound up having the Compassion Tour 2014 of Tibetan buddhist monks coming to The Light House Chapel this Sunday.

"Last weekend, a psychic lady told me to 'check out Tibetan healing for your leg,'" Mogyoros said. "That was Saturday. Then Monday morning a friend called me and said she had just gotten an e-mail about these monks and that I would want to get in touch with them for a healing."

The monks had a planned stop in Jackson earlier Sunday morning. They are adding Lansing to their itinerary in the afternoon.

"I'm so honored they would even consider coming to our little bitty church," Mogyoros said. "Things happen for a reason. I believe in miracles and this is one of them."

The Monks of Ganden Shartse Dokhang are the members of the Compassion Tour.

They are in the United States to share their culture, philosophy and arts, and to raise money to build dorms and a prayer hall at their monastery in Southern India. The immediate goal of the tour is to raise $300,000 to build the initial dormitories so that the monks have a place to live. Currently they are spread through the Tibetan settlement in Mundgod, India.

"I'm looking forward just to be in their presence to be honest with you," Mogyoros said. "I saw the Dalai Lama many years ago in Ann Arbor. Even though you were far away you could feel his energy."

Karen MacPherson is hosting the monks while in Michigan in her Grass Lake home. All six monks, as well as their driver, have been staying with her since last week. They drive to locations around Michigan and come back to her house to sleep at night.

MacPherson said she ended up being their host sort of by accident. She met the monks in San Francisco a few months ago. She said she has no Buddhist background, just a desire to learn more about their culture.

They didn't have any stops planned in Michigan or Ohio at the time.

"I said I can help," she said. "I live in Michigan and I grew up in Ohio."

She said she's stopped being surprised things work out unexpectedly and for the better.

"This is the compassion tour, it's going to work the way it's supposed to," she said.

The monks are also available for 1-hour private consultations after the healing meditation ceremony. MacPherson said they also can go to your home for a house blessing.

IF YOU GO:

What: Tibetan monk Compassion Tour 2014, healing meditation ceremony

When: Sunday, Aug. 17, 1 p.m.

Where: The Light House Chapel,1501 Windsor Street

Cost: $25 suggested donation. Cash or check only.

Private consultation, $150

House blessings, $250 or up

To book a private session or house blessing call Karen MacPherson at (440) 915-3687