Celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day
Sunday, December 18, 2022
All merit accumulated on this day is multiplied 100,000 times
Lama Tsongkhapa
Lama Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of Tibetan Buddhism’s greatest scholars and yogis.
His brilliant illumination of Buddha’s teachings shines through to this day in his Lamrim Chenmo—The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment—and many other profound texts. His spiritual heirs include His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
To celebrate, you can read or listen to Ven. Chodron’s talk on Tsongkhapa’s great kindness and her personal experiences of visiting his meditation cave in Tibet.
Then do some of the practices suggested below.
Traditionally, Lama Tsongkhapa Day is celebrated with many light offerings.
May the light of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, always increase!
How to celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day and create merit
We need a tremendous amount of merit to meet with Tsongkhapa’s teachings. Rejoice in your fortune, take advantage of your precious opportunity, and dedicate for your own awakening and for all sentient beings.
- Take and keep the Eight Mahayana Precepts for 24 hours.
- Make many light offerings on your altar, using candles, Christmas lights—whatever you have.
- Watch Ven. Chodron’s series of short teachings on The Essence of a Human Life: Words of Advice for Lay Practitioners, by Lama Tsongkhapa.
- Study, meditate, and listen to other Tsongkhapa teachings. His short texts include The Three Principal Aspects of the Path and The Foundation of All Good Qualities.
- Do the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice.
- Make offerings to your teacher or Dharma center for the continuation of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings. Go here to include Sravasti Abbey in your Lama Tsongkhapa Day offerings.
- You can add your Buddha Hall prayers and mantra recitations to be included in the Light Offerings in Bodhgaya ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple where the Buddha attained awakening. All financial offerings for the Buddha Hall will be included automatically.
- Here’s a play list of several short talks on Lama Tsongkhapa by Abbey monastics.
“In regions where the supreme precious teaching has not spread or where it has spread but then declined,
With my heart deeply moved by great compassion,
may I illuminate this treasure of happiness and benefit.”– Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)