Festival of Lights & Merit

Download as iCal file
Losar and 15 Days of Miracles
Festival of Lights & Merit
From Friday, 12. February 2021
To Saturday, 27. February 2021
15 Days of Miracles
 

Chotrul Duchen – Losar and Lord Buddha's 15 Days of Miracles

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche conferring the oral transmission of the Exalted Sutra of the Sublime Golden Light at the Mahabodhi Stupa during 2015's 15 Days of Miracles
Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 

During four holy times each year, according to the Tibetan calendar, Root Institute organises a celebration of the most significant events in Lord Shakyamuni Buddha's life, which we call our Festival of Lights & Merit.

You may help sponsor offerings of lights, flowers, prayer flags and pujas for these days
  

Join us in celebrating the annual Festival of Lights and Merits (FLAM) over these auspicious days of Losar (Tibetan New Year) followed by the 15 Days of Miracles culminating in the full-moon day of Chotrul Duchen by participating in and sponsoring several meritorious activities including the offering of tens and thousands of lights all around the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, the place of Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment.

These days are the anniversaries of the days that Shakyamuni Buddha showed his followers and people who doubted his enlightenment many miracles in order to inspire their faith. All fifteen days are merit-multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on these days is multiplied by 100 million (the merit-multiplying days) as cited by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche from the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic. Activities include flower and light offerings, prayer flag offerings, Guru Puja, Tara Puja and Protector Pujas by the Namgyel monks of the Tibetan Monastery at Bodhgaya.
 

Accumulate skies of merit for you, your loved ones and for all mother sentient beings during these 15 Days of Miracles by Lord Buddha! Please Sponsor Offerings

PoojaRootLightsMahabodhi2
Lights and prayers offered at Mahabodhi Stupa – the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment and at Root Institute, Bodhgaya

 

ROOT INSTITUTE IN YOUR SERVICE

Guidelines of behaviour in a Dharma environment

Root Institute is a delightful, semi-monastic meditation centre.

To maintain a conducive, spiritually harmonious atmosphere for inner reflection and meditation, we kindly ask all our students, guests and visitors to observe the following guidelines:

  • Respect all life: do not intentionally kill any living being, even small insects.

  • Respect others' property: do not steal or take anything not freely given.

  • Be honest and straightforward: do not lie or intentionally deceive others.

  • Be celibate: no sexual activity; this also includes no romantic holding hands, hugging, massages and other physical displays of affection.

  • Be alert and mindful*: avoid intoxicants such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes; we encourage you to stop smoking while here, but if this is impossible, you can smoke outside the gates.

  • Be considerate of others' silence: keep silence in the appropriate areas and at all times during residential courses, especially in the meditation hall (gompa) and dormitories; no singing or playing music and, in general, maintain a quiet demeanour while on the property.

  • Be considerate of the monks and nuns: dress respectfully; please no shorts above the knee, tank-top shirts, or tight and revealing clothing.

  • Couples: can stay in the same room for two weeks or less under the celibacy policy.

Please be aware:

  • * The Bihar state government has passed laws totally prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state, with very severe penalties! Please ensure that you do not carry any alcohol with you in Bihar.

  • Also, please note that those in service or teaching in FPMT centers and projects do not engage in the practice of Shugden and, due to our commitment to following His Holiness the Dalai Lama's advice and supporting his work, we do not share our materials and facilities with those who knowingly continue to practice Shugden against his advice.

Get involved

Facebook

 
Donate
Amazon
Wish List
Volunteer
 

Via newsletter

Subscribe