Shakyamuni Buddha. Image by Jane Seidlitz.

The Fifteen Days of Miracles—from the first day of the Tibetan new year, Losar, (this year on February 10, 2024) until the fifteenth, Chotrul Duchen (this year on February 24, 2024)—commemorate the special time when Guru Shakyamuni Buddha showed miraculous powers in order to subdue six tirthikas, or non-Buddhist teachers, who lacked faith in him, and to inspire more faith in his followers. It culminates on the full moon, the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar.

Please keep in mind: In accordance with the advice of Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers, Lama Zopa Rinpoche observed all the auspicious dates in the Buddhist calendar by Indian Standard time, instead of any other local time.

All fifteen days are merit multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on each of these days is multiplied by 100 million, according to the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Advice for the Fifteen Days of Miracles

You can find Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice for merit multiplying days, including the Fifteen Days of Miracles, collected online. (Find also here advice and practice material for merit-multiplying days in French)

If the members of your community decide to recite the Sutra of Golden Light on these special days, we invite them to report their recitations on the Sutra of Golden Light reporting page.

Advice Specifically for Losar, the Anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s Passing Away

Lama Yeshe teaching at Chenrezig Institute, Australia,1979. Photo courtesy of Pearl Bailey (donor) and Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

For FPMT, Losar is a special time as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s parinirvana at dawn of Losar in 1984.

Please refer to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice and request to FPMT affiliates as to how to mark this special day in Collected Advice from Rinpoche in the Affiliates Area, and in particular his request to offer extensive Lama Chopa with tsog.

A recent addition of Rinpoche’s advice is a short Tibetan text translated and commented on by Rinpoche, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away, which explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru.

This Losar marks forty years since the passing away of Lama Yeshe. Rinpoche also requested that centers host annual events on Losar day to introduce new students to Lama Yeshe. These events might include students who knew Lama Yeshe sharing their favorite stories, watching videos of Lama teaching, or reading stories about Lama. 

Additionally, according to the wishes of Rinpoche, on the anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s passing each year (Losar), gold will be offered to the Lama Yeshe statue at Kopan Monastery. This has now been occurring for the last two years and will be ongoing, in order to honor Rinpoche’s request. FPMT affiliates which have statues of Lama Yeshe are also encouraged to offer gold in this way every year, or as you are able.

Creating Merit for the FPMT Organization During the Fifteen Days of Miracles

Every merit multiplying day, the FPMT Puja Fund sponsors extensive pujas and offerings to be made on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. This Losar and during the fifteen days of miracles, ten thousand ordained sangha from all major monasteries will engage in various pujas and offerings, such as reciting the Prajnaparamita Sutra, offering one thousand Sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyalma, Medicine Buddha puja, Namgyalma long life ritual, and Sixty-four Offerings to Kalarupa. These practices are dedicated  to all the FPMT centers, projects, and services; all students, volunteers, those who offer service in FPMT; and to all beings.

Offerings are also made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to sangha in FPMT international sangha communities. In addition, robes are offered to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, and new parasols and whitewash are offered to Boudha and Swayambu stupas.

Various sutras will be printed and over a thousand animals will be liberated.

Please join us in rejoicing in these incredible practices and offerings, especially remembering them on the actual days, when one’s merit is multiplied 100 million times. It is also possible to participate in any of these pujas and offerings by contributing any amount.

About the Fifteen Days of Miracles

The Fifteen Days of Miracles are a time for pilgrimage and intensive Dharma practice. During this period, many Tibetan monasteries hold a Great Prayer Festival—Monlam Chenmo—for several days or even weeks, during which the Sangha recite prayers from morning until evening. Kopan Monastery, who has been the main host of the Great Prayer Festival for FPMT since 1998, will be hosting it again this year.

Additionally, according to the wish of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Nalanda Monastery in France will be hosting a Gelug Monlam for the first time in the West from February 23 to 25. A Monlam Chenmo Prayer Book will be made available, and centers or students who wish to host their own Prayer Festival or recite some of those prayers during this period are welcome to do so. We will send out information on this prayer book as soon as it is available.

Liberation Tibetan Calendar

Special thanks to the Liberation Prison Project for preparing this year’s Tibetan calendar. A limited view of the calendar is always available on “Dharma Practice Dates” as a courtesy to FPMT students around the world.

Through comprehensive study programs, practice materials, and training seminars, FPMT Education nourishes the development of compassion, wisdom, kindness, and true happiness in individuals of all ages.