SPIRITUAL: Holy Day

CHOTRUL DÜCHEN ~ BUDDHA HOLY DAY
	Chotrul Düchen Holy Day Practice with Geshe Gelek Tuesday, March 3rd, from 7:00 - 8:30pm (ET) ~ offered in person and online ~

HOW TO ATTEND

1.  In person at Kadampa Center

2.  Join via Zoom HERE

3.  Watch on YouTube livestream HERE

WAYS TO MAKE OFFERINGS ON CHOTRUL DÜCHEN

1. Sponsor Chotrul Düchen Holy Day Practice, $108 

• First, make your financial sponsorship HERE

• Then, submit your dedication HERE

2. Make offerings to Kadampa Center sangha members by placing financial offerings and/or notes of thanks and kindness in envelopes for our precious monks and nuns

3.  Contribute to the FPMT Puja Fund ~ learn more about the Puja Fund and make your donation HERE

ABOUT CHOTRUL DÜCHEN

Occurring on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan lunisolar calendar, Chotrul Düchen is one of the four major Buddhist Holy Days of the year.  This year, Chotrul Düchen takes place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The Fifteen Days of Miracles begins on Losar (Tibetan New Year) and culminates with Chotrul Düchen.  Throughout these fifteen days, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed miraculous powers to inspire faith in his followers.  As Buddha Holy Days, all fifteen days are merit multiplying days in which our merit is multiplied exponentially.  

Much more about Losar and the Fifteen Days of Miracles, including practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, is shared on the FPMT website HERE. 

TIBETAN NEW YEAR ~ LOSAR ~ ANNUAL CELEBRATION
	LOSAR TASHI DELEK!  HAPPY NEW YEAR! Join us on Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 10:30 am - 1:00 pm (ET) All are welcome at this family-friendly event! Details provided below.

VOLUNTEER TO HELP DURING THE LOSAR CELEBRATION

There are many ways to help make this event possible and wonderful!  Please take a look and sign up HERE to volunteer ~ THANK YOU!

HOW TO ATTEND THE LOSAR CELEBRATION

PART 1:  Hybrid format in the Gompa, beginning at 10:30am (ET)

• Attend onsite, in person at Kadampa Center ~ the best way to participate!

• Join via Zoom HERE ~ a good option for those who don't live locally.

• Watch via YouTube livestream HERE ~ a non-interactive way to participate.

PART 2:  In person only, taking place in the lobby immediately after the conclusion of PART 1

• Enjoy food, fellowship, and music!

• Bring a vegetarian dish to share at the Community Potluck

• Music provided by the KC Sunshine Band

MORE ABOUT LOSAR AND THE FIFTEEN DAYS OF MIRACLES

Tibetan New Year ~ Losar ~ falls on Wednesday, February 18th this year, which is the fisrt day of the first month of the Tibetan lunisolar calendar.  Kadampa Center's celebration takes place on Sunday, February 22nd ~ all are invited!  Losar marks the beginning of the Fifteen Days of Miracles, which culminates on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and is knows as Chotrul Düchen.  Throughout these fifteen days, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed miraculous powers to inspire faith in his followers.  Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised us that this is an especially auspicious time to do spiritual practice because, as Buddha Holy Days, our merit multiplies exponentially.  For FPMT centers, Losar is a particularly special time as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s passing (parinirvana) at dawn of Losar in 1984.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day Light Offering Practice with Geshe Gelek
	Sunday evening, December 14, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (ET) On this very holy and auspicious day of celebration, Geshe Gelek will lead us in prayers and practices, including circumambulation and making light offerings, as we honor Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  Learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa, an extraordinary Tibetan master, HERE.  As part of the celebration, we will gather to share a Tibetan noodle dish that is traditionally served on Lama Tsongskapa Day. Join us for a wonderful evening of beauty, community, food, fun, prayers and practices.  This will be both an indoor and outdoor event, please dress accordingly in warm, comfortable layers.  All are welcome!

HOW TO ATTEND

1. In person at Kadampa Center

2. Join via Zoom

3. Live stream on YouTube

SPONSOR LAMA TSONGKHAPA DAY

Sponsoring Lama Tsongkhapa Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make events like this and other Spiritual Programs possible at Kadampa Center.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Lama Tsongkhapa Day.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $108 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day Prayers & Practices with Geshe Gelek

Join us in celebration of Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of our lineage, the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  Geshe Gelek leads us in prayers and practices duirng this holy and auspicious day!  Learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa HERE. Sunday morning, December 14, 2025, beginning at 10:30 am in the gompa.  PLEASE NOTE:  We will take a break, on or before noon, so that those who need to leave may do so.  After the break, Geshe-la will resume leading the Lama Tsongkhapa Day prayers and practices for those who can stay.  A light lunch will be provided afterwards.    If you wish, feel free to bring a salad or dessert to share.

HOW TO ATTEND

1. In person at Kadampa Center

2. Join via Zoom

3. Live stream on YouTube

SPONSOR LAMA TSONGKHAPA DAY

Sponsoring Lama Tsongkhapa Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make events like this and other Spiritual Programs possible at Kadampa Center.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Lama Tsongkhapa Day.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $108 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE.

Lhabab Düchen ~ Buddha's Descent from the God Realm of the Thirty-three
	Geshe Gelek leads practices on Lhabab Düchen, a merit-multiplying Holy Day! Join us on Tuesday, November 11, beginning at 10:30 am (ET) until about noon. ~ offered in person and online ~

HOW TO ATTEND

1.  In person at Kadampa Center

2.  Join via Zoom HERE

3.  Watch on YouTube livestream HERE

WAYS TO MAKE OFFERINGS ON LHABAB DÜCHEN 

1. Sponsor Lhabab Düchen Holy Day activities, $108

• First, make your financial sponsorship HERE
• Then, submit your dedication HERE

2. Make offerings to Kadampa Center sangha members by placing financial offerings and/or notes of thanks and kindness in envelopes for our precious monks and nuns.

3.  Contribute to the FPMT Puja Fund ~ learn more about the Puja Fund and make your donation HERE

ABOUT LHABAB DÜCHEN

Occurring on the 22nd day of the ninth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Lhabab Düchen is one of the four major Buddhist Holy days of the year.  This year, Lhabab Düchen takes place on November 11, 2025.

Lhabab Düchen celebrates Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for several months to the gods, including his mother, Mayadevi, who had died a week after Buddha’s birth and been reborn there.

As a merit multiplying day, the karmic results of actions done on this day are multiplied 100 million times. This amazing result is taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Geshe Gelek encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. Students who have taken these precepts before from a qualified master may take them at home in front of their own altar.  Students may also take the precepts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche via this video, which was produced especially to provide this opportunity to those who have not received them.  For more about the practice of precepts, please read The Direct and Unmistaken Method by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Learn more about Lhabab Düchen HERE.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day (Ganden Ngamchoe) Join us on Sunday, December 14, as Geshe Gelek leads us in morning and evening practices on this very important, auspicious day!  See the full schedule below ~ all are welcome! Lama Tsongkhapa Day, also known as Ganden Ngamchoe (Tib.), is a celebration of the anniversary of the parinirvana of Lama Tsongkhapa.  Practices recommended on this holy and auspicious day include making offerings and reciting Lamrim texts, as well as Guru Puja and more.  Practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinopche for Ganden Ngamchoe can be found HERE. Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is the founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  Among his major accomplishments is writing the Lamrim Chenmo, aka the The Great Treatise on the Stages of 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 The Foundation of All Good Qualities, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and A Hymn of Experience.  Additionally, he revitalized the monastic code in Tibet, established the annual Great Prayer Festival, established Ganden Monastery, the first of the great monasteries in the Gelugpa tradition, and wrote 18 volumes of teachings.  A brief biography of Lama Tsongkhapa, an extraordinary Tibetan master, can be found HERE.

SCHEDULE for SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14

SPONSOR LAMA TSONGKHAPA DAY

Sponsoring Lama Tsongkhapa Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make events like this and other Spiritual Programs possible at Kadampa Center.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Lama Tsongkhapa Day.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $108 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE.

Chokhor Düchen Buddha Holy Day Buddha's First Teaching

Seven weeks after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Shakyamuni Buddha gave his first teaching, on the Four Noble Truths, at Deer Park in Sarnath.  We celebrate this day as Chokhor Düchen.  As one of the four Great Holy Days (or Buddha Days) of Tibetan Buddhism, Chokhor Düchen is a merit-multiplying day, in which the karma from our positive actions is multiplied 100 million times, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.  Geshe Gelek will offer the Eight Mahayana Precepts and lead us in lamrim meditations and Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga on this especially auspicious day for spiritual practice.  Please see the full schedule for Chokhur Düchen below and plan to join us for any or all of these Spiritual Program offerings. Monday, July 28th, 2025, beginning at 5:30 am.

SCHEDULE for CHOKHOR DÜCHEN 2025

5:15 am: Kadampa Center opens; students arrive.

5:30 am: Geshe Gelek arrives and confers the Eight Mahayana Precepts.

Light breakfast offered by Kadampa Center following the precepts

~8:00 am:  Geshe-la leads Lamrim meditations and Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga

11:30 am: Lunch offered by Kadampa Center

12:00 - 6:00 pm:  Kadampa Center remains open for personal practice

OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR CHOKHOR DÜCHEN HOLY DAY

Sponsoring a Buddha Holy Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make holy day events and other Spiritual Programs possible at Kadampa Center.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Chokhor Düchen Holy Day.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $108 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE.

ABOUT CHOKHOR DUCHEN and INTERNATIONAL SANGHA DAY

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

1.  The Truth of Suffering
2.  The Truth of the Origin of Suffering
3.  The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
4.  The Truth of the Path to the Cessation of 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, Chokhor Düchen is recognized by the FPMT as International Sangha Day, therefore, FPMT Centers are encouraged to celebrate the presence of the sangha in their community and worldwide.  Please consider showing your appreciation to Kadampa Center's monks and nuns by making offerings (financial and/or notes of thanks) to them on this special day.  See Kadampa Center's Sangha Support and Offerings page for detailed information on ways in which you can offer support to our sangha members.

Additional practice advice, plus more about Chokhor Düchen and International Sangha Day, can be found HERE.

Geshe Gelek confers Refuge and Lay Vows on Saka Dawa Düchen

On this Buddha Holy Day of Saka Dawa Düchen, Geshe Gelek has kindly offered to confer Refuge and Lay Vows.  It is incredibly auspicious to be able to take these vows on one of the four great holy days, when the karmic effects of our actions are increased exponentially! The Refuge Ceremony takes place on Wednesday, June 11, 7:00-8:30 PM (ET), and is being offered in person only. Pre-registration is required only if taking refuge for the first time.  Registration is now closed.  Please contact linda.saah@kadampa-center.org if you have questions or need assistance.

OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR THE REFUGE CEREMONY ON SAKA DAWA

Taking refuge in the Three Jewels ~ Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha ~ on a Buddha Holy Day is an especially auspicious and powerful opportunity, and sponsoring a Buddha Holy Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make holy day events possible.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Saka Dawa Düchen Holy Day and the Refuge Ceremony.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $125 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE. 

ABOUT REFUGE & LAY VOWS

• Taking Refuge Vows is making a commitment to Buddhism as one's spiritual path and creates a strong karmic bond to the refuge master who offers the vows.  During the Refuge Ceremony, registered students who are taking refuge for the first time will be given their refuge name (in Tibetan) by Geshe Gelek. This new name represents a new life on the Dharma path. 

• The Five Lay Vows are a set of basic ethical principles: not to kill, not to take what has not been given, not to lie, not to take intoxicants, and not to commit sexual misconduct (that is, have sex with someone else's partner). The Five Lay Vows are lifetime vows and should be taken with the confidence and commitment that you will keep them.

ABOUT THE REFUGE CEREMONY

Students taking Refuge for the first time:

• If taking refuge for the first time, students are required to pre-register.  Registration is closed.  Questions? Please contact linda.saah@kadampa-center.org.

• If taking refuge for the first time, students must make plans to be at Kadampa Center no later than 6:30 PM (ET) on Wednesday, June 11th, to attend a mandatory pre-ceremony orientation and rehearsal ~ this is very important!

• Students should bring two katas with them and a monetary offering (any amount) in an envelope for Geshe Gelek.  A note of appreciation can be included if you wish.

Students who have previously taken Refuge: 

• Please do NOT register for the Refuge Ceremony if you have previously taken refuge.

• Are welcome to attend the Refuge Ceremony and may renew your lay vows, if you wish.  

• Should NOT join the queue of students offering katas to Geshe-la and receiving a refuge name ~ these are only for students taking refuge for the first time.

• If you have previously taken Refuge at any point in your life with Geshe-la or another Refuge Master, you should NOT register and you are not required to attend the pre-ceremony orientation and rehearsal.

Preparing ahead of time to take Refuge, both mentally and logistically:

• To prepare mentally (ahead of time) to take Refuge and the Five Lay Vows (Precepts):

  • Geshe Gelek recommends that anyone interested in taking refuge should read the refuge section in Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (available for purchase as an eBook from FPMT's Foundation Store).

  • Students are also encouraged to listen to a teaching on refuge given by Geshe-la ~ listen to the recording HERE.

  • Learn more about vows from this article in FPMT's Mandala Magazine.

  • Read a teaching on refuge given by Lama Yeshe HERE.

• To prepare logistically (ahead of time) for the Refuge Ceremony:

  • Bring two katas, as it is traditional to offer one to the Buddha statue on the altar and one to offer to Geshe Gelek.  Katas are available for purchase ahead of time in our Dharma Shop.

  • Additionally, it is also auspicious to bring a monetary offering (any amount) for Geshe Gelek in an envelope to show your appreciation for the incredible gift he has just given you with this opportunity to take refuge.  If you wish, you may also include a card expressing your thanks.