Eight Mahayana Precepts on Chokhor Düchen (in person only)

On this Chokhor Düchen holy day - a merit-mutiplying day - Geshe Gelek will offer the Eight Mahayana Precepts in person at Kadampa Center. IRegistration to take precepts for the first time is closed. Students who wish to take precepts for the first time may simply come to the Center at 6 am. Kadampa Center will open at 5:45 am, and the Eight Mahayana Precepts Ceremony will begin at 6 am.  This event is in-person only.

Following the precepts, Kadampa Center will provide a light breakfast, and then Geshe Gelek will lead us in lamrim meditation and Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. You can find more details about our schedule for the day HERE.

The Eight Mahayana Precepts are 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, and more (see below).  The first time you take these precepts, it must be from a qualified master. After that, you can take them on your own in front of your altar.

If you wish to take the Precepts online with a qualified master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has kindly made this option available here: Eight Mahayana Precepts online with Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

MORE ABOUT THE EIGHT MAHAYANA PRECEPTS

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 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 conduct.
4. Not to lie.
5. Not to use intoxicants: including 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 (noon). 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.

More detailed information about the precepts can be found HERE.

MORE ABOUT CHOKHOR DUCHEN

At his first teaching, the Buddha expressed his profound realization of the nature of existence in the Four Noble Truths:

1. The Truth of  the Nature of Suffering
2. The Truth of the Origins or Causes of Suffering
3. The Truth of the Cessation of, or Liberation from, Suffering
4. The Truth of the Eight Fold Path as the means to attain ultimate happiness and freedom from suffering.

This teaching, referred to as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, led to the formation of the Sangha, the community of disciples committed to following the Buddha's example of living simply, following the Path, and teaching the Dharma. 

Accordingly, every year at this time, the FPMT encourages its Centers to celebrate the presence of the sangha community. 

Our website includes a Sangha Support and Offerings page with valuable information, including a previous year's talk and Q&A about sangha with our director, Robbie Watkins.  Practice advice and more about Chokhor Düchen and International Sangha Day can be found HERE. 

Chokhor Düchen is a Buddha Holy Day, when the karma of our virtuous actions multiplies 100,000 times, according to a Vinaya text. Don't miss the opportunity to multiply your merit!

You can sponsor Holy Day events - amazing merit!  Click here to sponsor Chokhor Düchen