Saga Dawa Duchen 2021:

The most auspiciously important month in the Tibetan lunar calendar is Saga Dawa, the 4th lunar month. Saga Dawa 2021 runs from May 12, 2021, – June 10, 2021. The 15th day of this lunar month, the full moon day, is called Saga Dawa Düchen (Düchen means “great occasion”). In 2021, Saga Dawa Düchen falls on Wednesday, May 26. This day is the single most important holy day of the year for Tibetan Buddhists. Saga Dawa Düchen commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (Sanskrit: parinirvāṇa; Pali: parinibbāna) of our perfect and most supreme teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni. This occasion is better known as Buddha Purnima (or Buddha Day) in other Buddhist traditions. Buddha Purnima Day is celebrated slightly earlier than Saga Dawa as it’s based on a different lunar calendar. We honored this auspiciously great occasion at the Buddhist Institute in 2019 with an inter-tradition gathering that brought together Venerable’s and fellow Dharma brothers and sisters from four different Buddhist temples. We may be from other traditions; however, we all follow and praise the same foremost teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni.

Saga Dawa: the Month of Merits:

Saga Dawa is known as the month of merits; it’s also called bumgyur Dawa, which means “merits multiplied by a hundred thousand times.” Tibetan Buddhists worldwide make extra efforts in practicing Dharma, generosity, and compassion to accumulate greater virtuous merits and purify our negative karmas. Along with remembering Buddha and his activities, the festival’s main point is to pray. Many say the goal of the festival season is to pray for the long life of all holy Gurus from all traditions, for the survival and spreading of Buddha’s teachings in the minds of all sentient beings, and peace on earth. Tibetan Buddhists go to monasteries and temples to pray during the Saga Dawa Festival. One place in Lhasa where crowds of Tibetans gather to pray is the Potala Palace. Hundreds of people lie down or stand to pray in front of it.

 

Saga Dawa Celebration:

Join us for Saga Dawa Duchen on May 26th, 2021, at the Buddhist Institute or on Zoom at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Venerable Geshe Phelgye has offered to teach a special retreat honoring this sacred day. Join Zoom Celebration https://zoom.us/j/94438859440 Meeting ID: 944 3885 9440