Sravasti Abbey’s Christmas Day Tradition
You could adopt it too! Every year we read Shantideva’s inspiring Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life out loud together—learn more.
There are many translations. Even reading a chapter or two will uplift and bring meaning to your holiday season!
Celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day
This year it’s on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024
It is said that we need a tremendous amount of merit to meet with Je Tsongkhapa’s teachings. How fortunate we are! As holiday hymns sing of rejoicing, you, too, can rejoice in your precious opportunity, celebrate with extra practices, and dedicate all the merit for your own awakening and for all sentient beings.
Lama Tsongkhapa
Lama Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357-1419) was one of Tibet’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 watch teachings, practice what Lama Tsongkhapa taught, and make offerings. Traditionally, Lama Tsongkhapa Day is celebrated with many light offerings.
Teachings on Lama Tsongkhapa
Want to learn more about this great Tibetan master? 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.
You can also watch late Geshe Tenzin Chodrak (Dadul Namgyal’s) three talks on Lama Tsongkhapa’s Extraordinary Life, Lama Tsongkhapa’s Inspiration and Lama Tsongkhapa’s Legacy.
Here’s a play list of several short talks on Lama Tsongkhapa by Abbey monastics.
May the light of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, always increase!
How to celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day and create merit
Practice His Teachings
Learn how to follow Lama Tsongkhapa’s advice for your daily practice in Ven. Sangye Khadro’s new book, How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path.
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.
Ven. Sangye Khadro is currently teaching Lama Tsongkhapa’s Middle Length Lamrim on Thursdays. You can watch past teachings on YouTube Live.
Make Offerings
- Make many light offerings on your altar, using candles, Christmas lights—whatever you have.
- 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.
Other Practices to Create Merit
- Take and keep the Eight Mahayana Precepts for 24 hours.
- Do the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga practice.
Sravasti Abbey’s Christmas Day tradition is to read Shantideva’s Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds aloud (Also translated as Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.). See a large collection of teachings on this marvelous text. There are numerous translations.
“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)
