The Tergar Meditation Community, founded by the revered meditation teacher and master of the Karma Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, has announced a special online event to mark Losar, the Tibetan lunar new year. A community celebration led by the esteemed scholar Khenpo Pema Woser will be live streamed on 14 February.
“Khenpo Pema Woser will explain the meaning and significance of Losar and lead us in the practice of ‘Nectar of the Path,’ followed by a short tsok ritual feast offering composed by Mingyur Rinpoche.” Tergar explained in an announcement shared with BDG. “He will also explain the meaning and benefits of the tsok practice.”
Losar is one of the most important festivals in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, marking the beginning of the “month of miracles,” when the Buddha uncharacteristically displayed his power by performing a number of miracles. It is believed that the effects of one’s actions during this time are multiplied by tens of thousands, so many people increase their efforts to engage in spiritual practices.
Predating the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and with roots in the Bon tradition, Losar begins on the first day of the Tibetan lunisolar calendar, which falls in February or March. Losar is traditionally celebrated over a 15-day period, with an emphasis on the first three days. The festival is now inextricably intertwined with Vajrayana Buddhist practices as well as Tibetan cultural activities, including Buddhist ceremonies, hanging prayer flags, folk dances, and community and family reunions. Families also visit Buddhist temples to offer prayers and gifts to monks. Losar is also observed in other countries with Vajrayana communities, although with variations in timing, traditions, and practices.
Tergar’s live-streamed celebration will include a talk on the meaning and significance of Losar, an explanation of the tsok ritual feast, an opportunity to practice the Nectar of the Path and tsok liturgies composed by Mingyur Rinpoche, participation in the tsok ritual feast offering, and sharing wishes for the world.
The free webinar with Khenpo Pema Woser will include translation from English into Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. It will be live-streamed at the following times:
Auckland: 4am, Sunday, 15 February
Canberra: 2am, Sunday, 15 February
Seoul, Tokyo: 12am, Sunday, 15 February
Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei: 11pm, Saturday, 14 February
Bangkok, Jakarta: 10pm, Saturday, 14 February
New Delhi: 8:30pm, Saturday, 14 February
Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm: 4pm, Saturday, 14 February
London: 3pm, Saturday, 14 February
Montreal, New York: 10am, Saturday, 14 February
Los Angeles, Vancouver: 7am, Saturday, 14 February
Click here for full details and to register
Khenpo Pema Woser was born in a border area in the Himalayas known as Tsum. After the death of his mother, he left home to study and practice the Dharma, joining Tergar Oseling Monastery, located near the Swayambunath Buddhist complex in the Kathmandu Valley. At the encouragement of Mingyur Rinpoche, his root guru, he joined the monastic college at Sherab Ling. Since completing his traditional monastic studies in 2010, Khenpo Pema Woser has worked closely with Mingyur Rinpoche to realize his vision at Tergar Osel Ling, primarily teaching logic, debate, and epistemology, and serving in various leadership roles.
Khenpo Pema Woser has studied many important practice systems, including those described in the Great Five Treasuries by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, as well as numerous commentaries on Mahamudra. These transmissions and teachings have come from great masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tai Situ Rinpoche, and Mingyur Rinpoche.
See more
Tergar International
Tergar Asia
Losar: Celebrating the Tibetan New Year (Tergar)
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