February - March:
February - March:
Cho-trul Duchen: "Day of Miracles: - the first fifteen days of the first Tibetan month celebrate the days on which Lord Buddha performed many miracles, with the 15th being the Day of Miracles; the Great Prayer Festival (Mönlam Chenmo) takes place over the coures of these days.
May - June:
 Month of Saka Dawa Buddha's birth: the 4th month; positive actions are multiplied 100,000 times so practice is emphasized and eating meat or other 'black food' (like any meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic etc.) is discouraged.- On the 15th of the 4th month, Buddha Shakyamuni's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana are celebrated. He was born in Lumbini (current-day Nepal) became enlightened in Bodhgaya (India), and entered parinirvana ("passed away") in Kushinagar (India).
July 6:
His Holiness has three main commitments in life.
Firstly, on the level of a human being, His Holiness’ first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their life happier. His Holiness refers to these human values as secular ethics. He remains committed to talk about the importance of these human values and share them with everyone he meets.
Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, His Holiness’ second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of each other’s respective traditions. As far as one truth, one religion is concerned, this is relevant on an individual level. However, for the community at large, several truths, several religions are necessary.
Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and carries the name of the ‘Dalai Lama’. Tibetans place their trust in him. Therefore, his third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. His Holiness’ has a responsibility to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice. As far as this third commitment is concerned, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese. More about His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
July:
- Cho-khor Düchen: the 4th day of the 6th month, the "First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma" (first teaching) is celebrated. For the first seven weeks after his Enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he then gave his first teachings at Sarnath on the Four Noble Truths.
November:
December:
 Lama Tsongkhapa's passing day The Anniversary of Lama Je Tsong-khapa, 1357 - 1419 AD, is celebrated on the 25th day in the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. In remembrance of Lama Tsongkhapa, Venerable monks of Gyuto Center will be performing the Guru puja (Tsog Offering).
Lama Tsong-khapa (Je Rinpoche, The precious Lord), was one of the most famous and holy of the Tibetan masters who successfully integrated into his life his knowledge of the Buddha’s teachings, and his accomplishment of true spiritual insight or realization. As the founder of the Gelug-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsongkhapa’s presence was not only of great service in the preservation of the dharma, but also in thoroughly refining the teachings. To this day, his life and work profoundly inspire millions of people around the world. Je Tsongkhapa founded Ganden Monastery – one of the greatest monasteries in Tibet – and his popular Gelugpa tradition gave rise to many others following in this same order (such as is studied and practiced at Drepung, Sera, Gaden and Gyuto and Gyudme Tantric monasteries.
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Mönlam Chenmo (Tibetan: 'Great Prayer') is the most important Tibetan Buddhist celebration of the year, held annually as part of the New Year festivities. The Great Prayer Festival was established by Lama Tsongkhapa in 1409, when the first Great Prayer Festival was held in Lhasa. Lama Tsongkhapa invited all the people of Tibet to a two-week-long festival of prayer, auspicious rituals, teachings, and celebrations from the first new moon until the full moon of the lunar New Year. Many hundreds of thousands, perhaps more than one million, people came from near and far. This first full moon of the year is celebrated in the Vajrayana tradition as the Day of Miracles (Tibetan: 'Chotrul Duchen') to commemorate the final day of miraculous display by the Buddha which lasted 15 days.
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Saka Dawa is one of the most important sacred Buddhist days. The full moon day of Saka Dawa commemorates Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (death). The celebrations usually last the whole fourth Tibetan month (usually May or June). See our Event Calendar for the actual dates.
During this month practitioners place special emphasis on Dharma practice like circumambulation of monasteries and stupas, prostrations, taking precepts, reciting mantras, offering mandalas, doing sadhanas and saving animals lives, etc. All the merits of virtuous actions done on this day are multiplied one hundred million times.
Practices specifically recommended during the month of Saka Dawa include:
- Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts: for one day, one can take the precepts to refrain from killing, stealing, any sexual conduct, lying, intoxication, not to take a high or luxurious seat, not to sing, dance or wear ornaments, and not to eat after midday. (The first time, one should receive the precepts from a qualified teacher, thereafter one can take them by oneself.) (
 Practice text available on our website)
- Nyung-Ney (Fasting Retreat)
Performing the Guru Shakyamuni Buddha Puja ( Puja text available on our website) |
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His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's 
Roger Stevens will be leading a guided meditation class twice a month, every other Sunday morning from 10 am to 11 am at the Center. There will be an opportunity for discussion after the meditation session. Share your experience with others. Everyone is...
We invite all members and friends to join farewell tea party for Ven. Woser who is returning to the monastery back in India. Ven. Woser has been with us almost two years. There will be three new monks who are coming from India to replace him and other...