Wednesday, February 18 (5:30 – 7:30 pm)
Mahakala and Special Chenrezig Meditations
In-person only, no registration required
Tibetan New Year (Losar) is celebrated with Mahakala protector practice, a fierce expression of loving kindness and compassion to clear the obstacles of the old year. This is followed by the Condensed Chenrezig meditation, which can be joined by all, to open the new year with peaceful expressions of loving kindness and compassion. These companion practices are offered to lift the suffering of beings.
Lama Pema and Lama Yeshe will lead the practices, opening each with a short talk about Losar and the practices themselves. Both meditations will be done in chanted Tibetan with musical accompaniment.
May we all join in clearing obstacles from the past, to welcome in a new year!
As a generous act to open the new lunar year, you are invited to bring contributions of clothing and warm camping gear for the center’s “In the Warm” project and please consider bringing non-perishable food items to contribute to the Talent Food Bank. Thank you!
A little history of Losar: https://rubinmuseum.org/losar-tibetan-new-year-traditions/ “Losar celebrations embody the rich cultural heritage and religious traditions of the Tibetan people. Tibetan New Year, or Losar, is celebrated across the greater Himalayan region and around the world with celebrations that typically last for fifteen days. Losar begins with a three-day festival featuring delicious food, traditional dances, and a focus on a benevolent and prosperous year to come. As one of the most important holidays in Tibet, Losar is a celebration of renewal, reflection, and community bonding.
Central to the holiday are efforts to cleanse and purify, and those who celebrate aim to release negativity from the past year and invite in positivity. Losar marks the beginning of the Tibetan calendar year—a time for family gatherings, religious ceremonies, and feasting on special foods.”
This is a time of abundance and a time to dress up as a way to celebrate that abundance and celebrate all our positive wishes for loved ones and for all sentient beings!