Lhabab Düchen
Lhabab Düchen is one of the four major Buddhist holy days, and occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth month on the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Following his performance of extensive miracles at Shravasti in his 41st year, Shakyamuni Buddha ascended to the God Realm of Thirty-Three in order to give teachings to repay the kindness of his mother (by liberating her from samsara), as well as to benefit the Arya Beings. After three months, he descended from the God Realm to continue to benefit sentient beings in our realm.
As a Buddha holy day, this is an auspicious day for practice, when the karmic effects of actions are multiplied one hundred million times, according to our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text The Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche, encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. For more about the practice of precepts, please read The Direct and Unmistaken Method by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche advises many other practices on holy days as well.
