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Gyuto Vajrayana Center

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Annual Holidays PDF Print E-mail
  • deity_images/TsongkhapaDeities.jpg

    February - March:

    • Tibetan New Year - Losar 

    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:

    • AltarMonth 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:

    • Lha-Bub Duchen: Buddha Shakyamuni's descent from Tushita Heaven
    • This celebrates the anniversary of the Buddha’s descent from the heavenly realm to earth. Buddha Shakyamuni ascended to The Heaven of Thirty-Three in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in the desire realms and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara. This is considered to be one of the great deeds of the Buddha among eight great deeds. On Lha-bab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.
    • A special puja will take place in honor of Lha-Bab Duchen

    December:

    • th_TsongkhLama 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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    Upcoming Events

    • One Day Tara Practice
      February 04, 2012 (10:00 am - 4:00 pm)

      WhiteTara001

      White Tara is associated with practices which can contribute to enhancing one’s life span and overcome life-threatening hindrances. White Tara practice can also be done on behalf of someone who is ill. By relying on White Tara and reciting her mantra,...

    • Meditation Class with Roger Stevens
      February 05, 2012 (10:00 am - 11:00 am)

      RogerStevenRoger 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...

    • Lamrim Teaching by Geshe Chonyi
      February 05, 2012 (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm)
      Geshe ChonyiThe stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) is one of the great classics of Tibetan Buddhism which Lama Tsongkhapa founded came from the Kadam tradition, where Atisha and other great masters devised a systemized structures of study known as the...
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