|
|
Dharma Focus
Buddha's Descent From Tushita Heaven
|
The four major
sacred dates
|
The four major sacred dates of the "great times" (du chen) are festivals which constitute the most significant events in
the calendar of Tibetan Buddhism:
- The miracle of Shravasti in the First month;
- Buddha's birth, awakening and pariniravana in the Fourth month;
- The first sermon "Setting in motion the Wheel of the Dharma" in the Sixth month; and
- The celebration of the Buddha’s descent from Tushita heaven in the Ninth month.
|
|
Buddha’s descent
from Tushita heaven
in the Ninth month
|
The twenty-second day of the Ninth month of Tibetan calendar, which is the sacred day of the celebration of the
Buddha's descent from Tushita heaven.
Buddha's mother, Maya Deva, was reborn in Indra's heaven after she died. To repay her kindness and to liberate her,
and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the heaven where he preached before the divine
congregation, including his mother, for three months.
|
|
Puja and offerings
to Guru Shakyamuni
Buddha and
the Sixteen
Sthaviras
|
In celebration of the great occasion of Buddha's descent from Tushita heaven, pujas to pay homage and make offerings
to Guru Shakyamuni Buddha and the Sixteen Sthaviras are usually held. Participating in the auspicious puja would
bring powerful waves of inspiration and blessings, accumulate merit and purify obscurations.
|
Namo Arahat
This painting "Namo
Arahat", drawn and
Gyalwang Karmapa,
was presented to
Khenpo Kunga.
(2006)
|
|
(The sixteen Arahats: Angaja, Ajita, Vanavasin, Kalika,
Vajriputra, Bhadra, Kanakavatsa, Kanaka-Bhadvaja,
Bakula, Rahulabhadra, Chudapanthaka, Bharadvaja,
Panthaka, Nagasena Gopaka, Abheda, and Upasaka
Dharmatala.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The benefits of
making offerings
and dedications on
sacred date of
Buddha's descent
from Tushita heaven
|
Making Offerings
The purpose of making offerings is to accumulate merit and in particular to develop and increase the mind of
generosity, create the causes for the future results of becoming wealthy and becoming naturally and spontaneously
generous. By means of making offerings, our negative karma and all different types of obscurations (gross, subtle,
negative karma, afflictive emotions, and obscurations to enlightenment) will be purified. Therefore, this is a swift
method for the eradication of bad karma and the simultaneous generation of good karma.
Dedication of Lamps
The clarity of light can dispels all ignorance and strengthen the clarity of mind hence generate wisdom and
compassion. When dedicating lamp offering, we are wishing that wisdom arise within the minds, free from all
confusion and ignorance and eventually achieve enlightenment.
Merit
On this sacred day, merits that generates through virtuous activities multiplies vastly. Therefore it is an excellent time
to dedicate the merit of making offerings to the elimination of suffering and achievement of lasting happiness, and to
world peace.
|
|
