What is the significance of Samantabhadra’s Aspiration to Noble Deeds?

The Aspiration of Samantabhadra or Samantabhadra’s Aspiration to Noble Deeds is often called the “King of Prayers.” It extensively and thoroughly expresses the entirety of the Buddhist path and the actions of a bodhisattva in 63 succinct verses, extracted from the Avatamsaka Flower Garland Sutra. Monlam assemblies of all traditions [...]

What are tormas and their meaning?

A torma is a particular type of cake that is often used as an offering in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. Tormas are generally made from barley flour and butter. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors specific to the practice being performed. The making of tormas is itself a sacred [...]

Why do we pray for the long life of our gurus?

Buddha Shakyamuni manifested enlightenment in Bodhgaya, India, and taught the sacred Dharma more than 2,500 years ago. Since that time, these incomparable teachings have passed directly from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage up to the present day. Our precious gurus embody our living connection to the source of [...]

What is the power of group prayer?

  When we join our voices and our hearts together with pure intentions, the power of our prayers is greatly amplified. Just as a drop of water when merged with a great ocean becomes inseparable from the vastness of the ocean, each participant of group prayer accumulates the amount [...]

What is the purpose of a Monlam in North America?

This year's Monlam at Tsechen Kunchab Ling (Temple of All-Encompassing Great Compassion) in Walden, New York, will be the first Monlam organized by the Sakya lineage in North America. This will be an auspicious opportunity for practitioners from all over the world to come together with some of the [...]

What is a Monlam?

The term Monlam means the path of aspiration and is a form of prayer.  Here, it refers to the tradition of Monlam Chenmo, the great prayer gathering that has historically been part of Tibetan New Year celebrations for more than 600 years.  During a Monlam, the participants recite prayers with [...]