There have been many exciting milestones as we work to complete our move and expansion into our Bucktown headquarters, but having our space blessed by the Drepung Gomang monks, is one we’ll never forget.

The Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet. Located at the foot of Mount Gephel, part of the Gambo Utse mountain range, the historic monastery once housed up to 10,000 monks. Seven monks from Drepung Gomang, in the midst of a “Sacred Art Tour” across America, were in Chicago to complete a sand mandala. On this tour, the monks swept up the sand of their elaborate masterpiece and poured the grains into Lake Michigan—symbolizing the never-ending spiritual cycle of creation and destruction. We were honored to welcome the monks to our 15,000 square-foot warehouse as they travelled through.

With doors nearly ready to open, the idea of a blessing ceremony felt perfectly timed. Over the past few months, we’ve been renovating the historic bow-truss space to turn it into our multi-use “rough luxe” headquarters. It’s been a very busy time and we appreciated the opportunity to slow down and reflect.

The Drepung Gomang monks offered up a Puja blessing, which included chanting and meditation. The word Puja means flower, and the term is thought to have come from the custom of greeting the Buddha with an offering of flowers. Today, it is still common practice to place flowers, candles and incense in front of a statue or portrait of the Buddha—though some Puja ceremonies can be far more elaborate in nature.

We are so grateful to the Drepung Gomang Monastery and monks for honoring us with this deeply moving visit. Click here to learn more about the monastery, or to support its work.