SPIRITUAL: Holy Day

Losar is the Tibetan New Year, the most important festival in Tibetan culture, when families get together and celebrate hopes for a better coming year.

Spiritually, the first two weeks of the Tibetan year are particularly powerful. These weeks mark a time when Shakyamuni Buddha was challenged to a duel of mystical powers by a group of  teachers who did not believe in the Buddha's teachings. During each of the 15 Days of Miracles, the Buddha's actions led to many people attaining realizations, ripening karms for higher rebirths and being liberated from samsara.

Each day in this two-week period is an auspicious day for practice.

FPMT says:

Any actions done during that period of time, both auspicious and harmful, are multiplied in their power. Karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million, as cited by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic. It is a very powerful time to practice and increase one’s commitment to both practice and study.

Our schedule of special events for this holy season:

Lama Tsongkhapa Day is a holy day honoring the monk who wrote the Lamrim, and whose life work resulted in the founding of our Gelugpa lineage in Tibetan Buddhism.

During this morning's session, we will explore Lama Tsongkhapa's life and work, and our connection to him at Kadampa Center.

We will also do practices that honor him and review his teachings.

Children in the Family Program will decorate and prepare luminaries to use in the evening for light offerings at the stupa.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day honors a very powerful practitioner so there is great power in the merit of supporting it financially. Supporting this holy day's spiritual practices – whether you are able to attend or not – is an opportunity to collect great merit. If you are sponsoring but not attending, you can offer prayers for those who are participating in the events.  Sponsor the morning practice ($75)

Making light offeirngs is a wonderful practice to do on Lama Tsongkhapa Day! We will gather at 6 pm to offer lights to our stupa. At 7 pm we will have Guru Puja.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day honors a very powerful practitioner so there is great power in the merit of supporting it financially. Supporting this holy day's spiritual practices – whether you are able to attend or not – is an opportunity to collect great merit. If you are sponsoring but not attending, you can offer prayers for those who are participating in the events.

Sponsor the light offerings ($50)

Geshe Gelek will teach on the 12 deeds of Shakyamuni Buddha. These are deeds that all buddhas perform. They are : descending from Tushita Heaven, entering his mother’s womb, birth, studying arts and handicrafts, enjoying life in the palace, renunciation, undertaking ascetic practices, going to Bodhgaya, defeating the negative forces (Mara), attaining enlightenment, turning the wheel of Dharma, entering parinirvana.

Following Geshe-la's teaching, we will have a group reading of the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra - the Buddha's teaching on emptiness, given on Vulture Peak in northern India. It is one of the most well-known of the Buddha's teachings.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says:  "(W)e are extremely fortunate, unbelievably fortunate even to be able to hear some teachings on emptiness, the Buddha’s teachings on the wisdom perfection. Even one stanza, not the complete teaching, but even a few lines from the Buddha’s teaching on the Perfection of Wisdom, even just to be able to hear it is unbelievably fortunate, leave aside having the opportunity to meditate, to reflect and to meditate, to study... For us, even if we are unable to practice; even those of us who are unable to practice in our daily life, at least we can leave a positive imprint on our mental continuum, to make preparation to realize emptiness in the near future. Even if we can’t meditate in everyday life, on lam-rim and on the teachings on the Perfection of Wisdom, at least we are able to leave an imprint by reading and by listening, even one time."

Come join in this amazing practice, and take a step toward realizing emptiness!

We will read the Vajra Cutter Sutra "monastery style" -- the pages will be divided evenly among all those present, and then we will all read our pages aloud, simultaneously.

This creates a joyful cacophony, as many voices join in together!  Even though we don't hear it all with our conscious mind, the imprint of the entire sutra enters our mindstreams.

Kadampa Center will open at 5 am; the Eight Mahayana Precepts will begin at 5:30 am.

5:30 am  The Eight Mahayana Precepts,  a set of eight vows taken for a period of 24 hours, from sunrise on one day to sunrise the following day. The vows include no killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying, sitting on high seats, and more.

We welcome all who wish to take precepts on this day to join in the gompa for the vows. There is great benefit to doing spiritual practice together. Geshe Sangpo says that sweeping the floor with a single straw would not be very effective, but several straws joined together become a broom, the perfect tool for cleaning.  Likewise, when we join with one another in spiritual practice, we increase the power of our practice. 

The first time you take these precepts, it must be from a qualified master. After that, you can take them from your altar. Geshe Gelek or Geshe Sangpo will offer precepts if students who have never taken them before request the vows. 

Please register here if you plan to come to precepts.

Following the precepts, we will have a light breakfast and a group reading of a sutra.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from first light before dawn to sunrise of the following day. The only prerequisite is that the first time one takes precepts it should be from a qualified teacher who has received the oral transmission of the practice. Thereafter you can perform the ceremony at first light yourself, reciting the prayers before an image of your teacher or the Buddha, imagining you are taking the vows from Buddha himself.

 It is good to take them on full and new moon days, and especially beneficial on Buddha Holy Days, when Karmic results are multiplied exponentionally, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
 

These Mahayana Precepts enable you to live in the essence of pure moral conduct, and since you take them with the strong motivation of cherishing and wishing to benefit all others, their value is immeasurable. Taking these precepts is a powerful and effective way for you to build, maintain and increase deep propensities for spiritual practice and attainment and thus is a profound method for giving meaning to this precious human life.
 

The essence of this practice is to recall the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to become enlightened in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.
 

The eight precepts are:
 

1.    Not to kill, even insects.
2.    Not to steal (Not to take what is not offered).
3.    Not to engage in sexual contact.
4.    Not to lie.
5.    Not use intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6.    Not to eat at wrong times.*
7.    Not to sit on high, expensive beds or seats with pride. Avoid sitting on animal skins.
8.    Not to wear jewelry, perfume, or makeup; and not to sing, dance, or play music with attachment.
 

*It is alright to eat a light breakfast before or after the precepts. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and radishes. The main meal of the day is to be finished by midday. After that one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp, nor any food until sunrise of the following day.
 

You may read more about the precepts here.

On this auspicious holy day, Saka Dawa, Geshe Sangpo will offer Refuge, and the Five Lay Vows. It is especially wonderful to be able to take these vows on a Buddha holy day, when the karmic effects of our actions increase exponentially! Taking refuge vows is making a commitment to Buddhism as one's spiritual path. It also creates a karmic bond with the teacher who offers the vows. When you take refuge in the Three Jewels, the refuge master conferring the vows will also give you a refuge name in Tibetan. The Five Lay Vows are a set of basic ethical principals, vows not to kill, take what has not been given, lie, take intoxicants or commit sexual misconduct (that is, have sex with someone else's partner). The Five Lay Vows are lifetime vows, so only need to be taken once, and should be taken with the confidence you will keep them.

Geshe Sangpo will offer a Refuge and Five Lay Vows ceremony.  Taking Refuge is making a commitment to the Buddha-Dharma as your spiritual path. Refuge must be taken with a qualified master, and creates a karmic bond between the student and the master offering the vows.

In order to participate, you must register ahead of time.  The deadline to register is Friday, May 25. Registration is closed.

Students who have already taken refuge are welcome to attend and renew their vows, but should not register.

Geshe Gelek recommends anyone interested in taking refuge should read the refuge section in the book Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (available in our bookstore). He also taught a class on refuge in 2013 for students interested in the ceremony - you can listen to it in the recordings section of our website.

The ceremony will likely be in Tibetan, but it is first explained in English what you are saying. Please plan to be there at least 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. At the end of the ceremony, it is traditional to offer two katas (white offering scarfs, available in the bookstore) - one to the Buddha statue on the altar, and one to the teacher giving the vows, who returns it by placing it over your head as a blessing. While we often have spare ones to lend, it is best to buy them so you are actually making an offering of your own. It is also auspicious to give the teacher a gift, typically money (any amount) in an envelope, in appreciation for the incredible gift he has just given you with this opportunity. The center will also be giving you a copy of the FPMT booklet on refuge and how to practice it daily.

Kadampa Center will open at 5 am; the Eight Mahayana Precepts will begin at 5:15 am.

5:15 am  The Eight Mahayana Precepts,  a set of eight vows taken for a period of 24 hours, from sunrise on one day to sunrise the following day. The vows include no killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying, sitting on high seats, and more.

The first time you take these precepts, it must be from a qualified master. After that, you can take them from your altar. Geshe Sangpo will offer precepts if students request it.  If you wish to take precepts for the first time, please register here by Saturday, May 26.

Please register ONLY if you have not taken precepts before.

Following the precepts, we will have a light breakfast and a group reading of a sutra.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a set of vows that are taken for 24 hours, from first light before dawn to sunrise of the following day. The only prerequisite is that the first time one takes precepts it should be from a qualified teacher who has received the oral transmission of the practice. Thereafter you can perform the ceremony at first light yourself, reciting the prayers before an image of your teacher or the Buddha, imagining you are taking the vows from Buddha himself.

 It is good to take them on full and new moon days, and especially beneficial on Buddha Holy Days, when Karmic results are multiplied exponentionally, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
 

These Mahayana Precepts enable you to live in the essence of pure moral conduct, and since you take them with the strong motivation of cherishing and wishing to benefit all others, their value is immeasurable. Taking these precepts is a powerful and effective way for you to build, maintain and increase deep propensities for spiritual practice and attainment and thus is a profound method for giving meaning to this precious human life.
 

The essence of this practice is to recall the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to become enlightened in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.
 

The eight precepts are:
 

1.    Not to kill, even insects.
2.    Not to steal (Not to take what is not offered).
3.    Not to engage in sexual contact.
4.    Not to lie.
5.    Not use intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6.    Not to eat at wrong times.*
7.    Not to sit on high, expensive beds or seats with pride. Avoid sitting on animal skins.
8.    Not to wear jewelry, perfume, or makeup; and not to sing, dance, or play music with attachment.
 

*It is alright to eat a light breakfast before or after the precepts. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic, and radishes. The main meal of the day is to be finished by midday. After that one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp, nor any food until sunrise of the following day.
 

You may read more about the precepts here.

A sutra is a holy scripture -- the very words of the Buddha, written down so that all can receive the teachings. The practice of doing group readings of sutras began in the monasteries, where it continues today. The pages of the sutra are divided evenly among all participants, so that each person has a different set of pages than the others. Then all begin reading aloud at the same time, so that the room is filled with the joyful sound of precious teachings. It creates a wonderful current of energy, and everyone in the room hears the entire sutra and gets it on their mindstreams, although of ocurse they are not consciously taking in the words spoken by the others.

From FPMT:  The Sanghata Sutra is a direct teaching by the Buddha that promises to transform all who read or recite it. At www.sanghatasutra.net, visitors can learn all about this sutra, view stories of how others have been changed by the text, and get tips on reciting the text. The site includes a global satellite map marking places the text has been recited or copied, and a discussion forum devoted to the Sanghata.

A sutra is a holy scripture -- the very words of the Buddha, written down so that all can receive the teachings. The practice of doing group readings of sutras began in the monasteries, where it continues today. The pages of the sutra are divided evenly among all participants, so that each person has a different set of pages than the others. Then all begin reading aloud at the same time, so that the room is filled with the joyful sound of precious teachings. It creates a wonderful current of energy, and everyone in the room hears the entire sutra and gets it on their mindstreams, although of ocurse they are not consciously taking in the words spoken by the others.

From FPMT:  At the beginning of the Sutra of Golden Light, Buddha Shakyamuni, the Tathagata, the Arhat, the Fully Enlightened, calls to anyone experiencing misery and affliction, bad health, poverty, loss, abuse, ill will, fear, nightmares, or other harms. He says to make the mind virtuous and to come and listen.

This “King of Glorious Sutras,” contains everything needed, from daily happiness to complete enlightenment. It contains a heart-rending practice of confession and rejoicing, profound teachings on dependent arising, reliable assurances of protection, guidelines for ideal government, and awe-inspiring stories of the Buddha’s previous lives, in which the Buddha shows how, even before he had completely eliminated the delusions, he liberated countless beings from the ocean of suffering through compassion and personal courage.