“However much darkness there is, we must be able to serve as small lamps in that darkness.”
~HH the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje
On Thursday, March 3rd, the Tibetan New Year (Losar) is celebrated, welcoming the auspicious Year of the Water Tiger. In this moment, offering butter lamps honors the Buddhist tradition of purifying the past and lighting our way forward, ushering forth powerful and positive change.
On Losar at Tara Mandala Retreat Center, Colorado, our residents will emerge from their end-of-the-year solo retreats and come together in the Tara Temple for our New Year’s Tsog (feast offering ceremony). We offer butter lamps, and read aloud the prayers and dedications from sponsors around the world as we sit in meditation.
the Tune of Brahma
Shakyamuni Buddha lists the 10 benefits of offering lights
One becomes like the light of the world
One achieves clairvoyance of the pure eye as a human
One achieves the Deva’s eye
One receives the wisdom to discriminate virtue from non-virtue
One is able to eliminate the concept of inherent existence
One receives the illumination of wisdom
One is reborn as a human or deva
One receives great enjoyment wealth
One quickly becomes liberated
One quickly attains enlightenment
Chötrul Düchen – The Fifteen Days of Miracles
We thank you for offering butter lamps for the Tibetan New Year. We look forward to honoring your prayers and dedications.
~With Blessings,
The Tara Mandala Family
