Saga Dawa Düchen – The Most Sacred Day Of The Year

This year the Tara Mandala community will gather for tsog (ritual feast) in honor of this special occasion. We invite you to please join us, by offering prayer requests, and butter lamps or flowers accompanying your prayers, which will be read aloud during our gathering as we sit in meditation. To make offerings, click on the buttons, or the following links:

• Click Here To Offer Butter Lamps And Prayers »
• Click Here To Offer Flowers And Prayers »

On Saga Dawa Düchen it is believed that the effects of our positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. May we reflect upon the traditions of Saga Dawa Düchen by engaging in generosity and meritorious deeds. The most well-known tradition that we can practice is Sojin, or Life Release, which is to save lives of animals that are destined to be killed. While this year for many our activity in the world still remains limited, we can hold our prayers and aspirations to reduce the loss of lives, and dedicate the merit of our activity to bring about positive effects and even extension of the lives of both the benefactor and practitioner.

At the heart of this gesture is simply acknowledging the preciousness of life. This can also be exemplified through observing a vegetarian or vegan diet, which is a common tradition during the month of Saga Dawa. One can cultivate great merit through this aspiration, while one can create an even larger quantity of merit when adopting an extended vow of vegetarianism.

On the seventh lunar calendar day of Saga Dawa the Buddha’s birthday is celebrated. This precedes Saga Dawa Düchen, which occurs on the fifteenth lunar calendar day. This makes Saga Dawa an incredibly auspicious time, and it is known as the “Month of Merits”.

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

Our ongoing commitment is to nurture our online community during this time of global pandemic, through Virtual Retreats and Online Courses. We are also happy to share many Global Sangha practices and events across the globe. To view a calendar of these practices, please click here.

The Tara Mandala community itself wholeheartedly cultivates outward offerings with daily pujas for anybody who is in need of prayers, including special practices for those who have died.

Thank you for sharing in this special occasion with us.

May our hearts be touched by the Buddha’s example and our motivations and activities remain loving and inspirational for the benefit of all beings.

~ With Blessings,
The Tara Mandala Family