Lama Tsongkhapa Festival! 2019

Come join us as we celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa,  the founder of our lineage, the Gelugpa tradition, in Tibetan Buddhism. This day marks the 600th anniversary of his passing. He was a renowned scholar, practitioner, meditator, teacher and author.  His studies and meditations in all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism resulted in the founding of the Gelugpa lineage. Among his major accomplishments is writing the Lamrim, or the Great Treatise on the Path to Enlightenment, a step-by-step guide to the spiritual practices that lead to enlightenment. He also wrote several condensed versions of the Lamrim, including Foundation of All Good Qualities, the Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and Song of Experience.

  
Led by Geshe Gelek, we will celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa and his great contribution to the Dharma with a festival of prayer and practice.  To bring us closer to him, we will bring Lama Tsongkhapa and his disciples from the main altar onto a special altar in the center of the gompa, where we will make light offerings and circumambulate the altar while reciting mantras. Our celebration also includes review of his three major short works. Geshe-la encourages us all to come, even if we can't attend the entire festival. Students are welcome to drop in and drop out throughout the afternoon.

Program
Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga
  Circumambulate altar while chanting 21 Lama Tsongkhapa mantras 
  Return to seats for long mandala offerings.
Foundation of All Good Qualities – review & analytical meditation
  Circumambulate altar while chanting 21 Lama Tsongkhapa mantras 
  Return to seats for long mandala offerings.
Three Principal Aspects of the Path – review & analytical meditation
  Circumambulate altar while chanting 21 Lama Tsongkhapa mantras
  Return to seats for long mandala offerings.
Song of Experience – review & analytical meditation
  Circumambulate altar while chanting 21 Lama Tsongkhapa mantras 
  Return to seats for long mandala offerings.
In Praise of Dependent Origination – review & analytical meditation
  Circumambulate altar while chanting 21 Lama Tsongkhapa mantras
  Return to seats for long mandala offerings.
Recite Lama Tsongkhapa mantra 14 times
Lamrim dedication prayerr

Geshe Gelek encourages students who have previously taken Eight Mahayana Precepts to take them at home before sunrise, before their home altar.

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.

Supporting the Holy Day event is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the button below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

The festival begins with Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga puja and will include light offerings.

Sponsor Holy Day Puja ~ $125

Sponsor the light offerings ($50)