Join us at the SAN Center for a powerful distillation of good vibes. Enjoy meditation, flower elixir happy hours, practitioner trainings, creative workshops and new moon ceremonies!
We've organized our offerings into 2 different categories to help you find the events that you will love most:
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Big Splashes
One of a kind. Rare. Sensorial. Deeply Meaningful. Life-changing.
MAY 7 - 12: Medicine Buddha Immersion
MAY 13 - 26: We're hosting the Gaden Shartse Tibetan Monks Tour at the SAN Center! Calendar of events BELOW. -
In-House Series
Meditation. Ceremony circles. Art classes. Community gatherings with our in-house practitioners.
SAT & TUES: Meditation with Lisa Reinhardt [virtual & in-person]
ONCE A MONTH: Golden Aura Smoke Offering Connection [virtual & in-person]
EVERY 2nd & 4th SATURDAY: Art Practice with Alison Van Wyck
EVERY 2ND & 4TH SATURDAY
Art Practice
A space for quiet exploration, creative play, and connection. No pressure, no expectations—just a chance to create freely and experiment with new techniques.
Each session begins with a short meditation, followed by brushwork and other artistic practices like Chinese ink painting, watercolor mandalas, and dream maps. Materials and brushes provided, but feel free to bring your own.
Date: Every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month
Time: 1-4pm
CLICK HERE FOR SINGLE CLASS: $36
CLICK HERE FOR BUNDLE OF 5 CLASSES: $150 | Have your pick and pre-register for 5 classes that work with your schedule. Make sure you rsvp and enter your code in to receive the discounted rate!
*Class dates are subject to change, so please check the calendar for the latest updates. Note that no classes will be held in July or December.
MAY 7 - 12, 2025
Medicine Buddha Immersion
A 5-DAY COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
led by Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Historic Gaden Shartse Monastery
MAY 7 | 6:30-9pm AZ
MEDICINE BUDDHA OPENING CEREMONY: Empowerment, Introductory Teachings & Consecration of the Sand Mandala
Sand Mandala Opening Ceremony & Conscecration
The Tibetan Monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery will devote 5 full days to building a Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala at the Self-Arising Nature Center, and will be available for viewing for their entire time in Phoenix. Visiting hours for viewing TBD.
The Opening Ceremony will sanctify the space by calling upon both seen & unseen forces to dispel negative energies & inviting auspicious blessings.
Medicine Buddha (Menla) Empowerment & Teachings
Medicine Buddha represents the pure essence of all healing energies. This practice is beneficial for anyone of any circumstance, for the cultivation of compassion & insight. It pacifies obstacles, illness and karmic circumstances.
MAY 13, 17, 20, 24
Meditation with the Monks
It's a rare opportunity to sit with & practice meditation with Tibetan Buddhist Monks.
Enjoy meditation instruction & wisdom teachings with Geshe to fine-tune your existing practice or guide & inspire you to begin one.
If you join Lisa's weekly meditation classes, the monks will be taking over her class time.
Several class times:
Tuesday May 13 @ 6pm AZ (+ virtual)
Saturday May 17 @ 10am AZ (+ virtual)
Tuesday May 20 @ 6pm AZ (+ virtual)
Saturday May 24 @ 10am AZ (+ virtual)
MAY 13 | 7pm AZ
Unveiling of the Medicine Buddha with 108 Flowers painting by Alison Van Wyck
Our in-house artist & Feng Shui practitioner, Alison Van Wyck, has devoted a year of her practice to painting a Medicine Buddha Thangka. It is now complete.
Traditionally, the Medicine Buddha is surrounded by a mandala of sacred plants & herbs ~ but we requested her to surround this Medicine Buddha with 108 flowers that we have in our flower essence collection.
Join us for an unveiling of her finished painting & a consecration ceremony to bring it to life.
This will take place immediately after Meditation with the Monks.
MAY 15 | 6pm AZ
EMPOWERMENT: Buddha of Compassion ~ Four-Armed Chenrezig + Introductory Teachings
The Buddha of Compassion is known as Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit), meaning ‘liberator from the unfortunate lower rebirths.’
Chenrezig pledged not to attain Enlightenment until all sentient beings were free from the sufferings of samsara. Receiving the empowerment of this Buddha, therefore, provides one with protection from an unfortunate lower rebirth.
MAY 17 | 10am AZ
EMPOWERMENT: Green Tara + Introductory Teachings
Green Tara is the embodiment of compassion, swift-acting protection & righteous action.
MAY 19 | 6-8pm AZ
DHARMA TEACHING: The Journey Beyond ~ Understanding Death, Bardo & Rebirth
Everything that is born will eventually die.
In the West, death is traditionally a taboo subject that brings feelings of fear, anxiety & misunderstanding. This angst can be calmed with Buddhist teachings on the death & dying process.
MAY 22 | 6-8pm AZ
DHARMA TEACHING: Transform Adverse Circumstances Into the Path of Enlightenment
This talk is an invitation to explore profound teachings on transforming adversity into a path of Enlightenment.
Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism, the monks will share practices & insights on how to turn life's challenges and obstacles into opportunities for spiritual growth.
MAY 24 | 11:30am AZ
Tibetan Calligraphy Workshop with the Monks
Immerse yourself in the ancient art of Tibetan calligraphy in this workshop focused on the sacred symbols, precise strokes & the spiritual depth of Tibetan script.
Led by master calligraphers, you'll learn how each symbol in Tibetan calligraphy carries specific meanings & energies, conveying peace, wisdom & compassion through the language of ink.
MAY 25 | 11am AZ
Sacred Prayer Flag Workshop with the Monks
Learn the ancient art of creating Tibetan prayer flags imbued with sacred energy. Under the guidance of the monks, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to experience the compassionate spirit & spiritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
You'll not only learn the craft, but the deeper meanings behind each color, symbol & mantra represented on these prayer flags, which are traditionally used to spread blessings of peace, compassion, wisdom & strength ~ carried throughout all of space by the winds.
MAY 25 | 6pm AZ
MUSIC RITUAL: 21 Tara Puja with Chanting, Bells & Sacred Sound
Join us in a heartfelt farewell ceremony with the Twenty-One Tara Puja, a sacred music ritual featuring powerful chanting, Tibetan bells, and resonant sounds.
Led by the monks, this final puja invokes the blessings of the 21 Taras, dispelling obstacles, purifying energies, and filling the space with peace and compassion.
Through this moving ritual, we celebrate our connection and bid a sacred farewell, embracing the transformative power of sound and intention.
MAY 26 | 9am AZ
Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala Closing Ceremony
After spending countless hours laying millions of grains of sand into an intricate mandala, the monks sweep up the grains together in a sacred ceremony ~ a beautiful display of the reality of impermanence.
After the dissolution, the blessed sand will be distributed among everyone present.
The remaining sand will be taken to the Salt River & poured into flowering water ~ carrying the blessings away to benefit all beings.
MAY 26 | 12pm AZ
Dispersal of Sand Mandala at the Salt River
Meet us at the Salt River to disperse what remains of the Medicine Buddha Sand Mandala into the water.
Make prayers & wishes as the blessings get carried away!
More information coming soon!