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Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe in a tent at Syangboche, Solu Khumbu, Nepal, 1972. Photo courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
The Fifteen Days of Miracles 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 begins on Losar (February 18, 2026) and culminates on Chotrul Duchen (March 3, 2026), the full moon on the lunar calendar.
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.
Practice Advice | Swift Return Prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche | Gelug Monlam |
Anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s Passing | Offerings on Losar
Practice Advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered extensive advice for how to make the most of these great holy multiplying days. Of particular note:
- Take the eight Mahayana precepts: Students can receive the lineage of these precepts from a specially produced video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering them in May 2020.
- Recite the Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels
Rinpoche also suggested any of the following, as one is able:
- Perform the Guru Shakyamuni Buddha puja. A beautiful and deeply inspirational puja. The puja text is formatted with hyperlinks for smooth navigation, so that individuals can easily do the core practice and any additional ones as their time allows. (This puja was performed with Khandro Kunga Bhuma on Vesak Day 2022 at Losang Dragpa Centre in Malaysia, with its resident teacher, Geshe Jampa Tsondu, as chant master. You can watch this online, starting at 6:10 in the video.)
- Recite sutras, such as Vajra Cutter Sutra, Sutra of Golden Light, and Sanghata Sutra
- Undertake Nyung Nas
- Perform self-initiation, for those who fulfilled the necessary prerequisites
- Perform Lama Chopa, and at either the beginning of the practice or during the lamrim section, you can meditate on emptiness
- Recite other prayers, such as Chanting the Names of Manjushri, and King of Prayers
- Recite the names of the Thirty-Five Buddhas, with prostrations
- Recite Vajrasattva mantras
- Recite OṂ MAṆI PADME HŪṂ with bodhichitta
- Meditate on emptiness and dependent arising
- Meditate on bodhichitta
- Practice tonglen
- Practice rejoicing in the good deeds of others
- Liberating animals
Of course, any other meritorious activities often advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche are also good to do on these days. If you choose to recite the Sutra of Golden Light on these or other days, please remember to report your recitations in the Sutra of Golden Light reporting page.
Swift Return Prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Swift Return Prayers held at the Buddha’s place of enlightenment in Bodhgaya 2025. Photo by Rohini Bobis.
In April 2025 a message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama was shared concerning Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In this message, His Holiness confirmed that, according to his observation, the reincarnation of our most precious spiritual director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, has taken birth in Nepal.
Any Dharma activities done on these multiplying days, please do take the opportunity to continue reciting the swift return prayers of our most precious Lama Zopa Rinpoche, also dedicating all of the merit for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s reincarnation to have good health, a sharp mind, and good conditions for the fulfillment of all Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s works and wishes. And of course, the main point in relying on the guru is practicing what the Guru taught and filling His holy wishes. Please consider organizing your Losar activities around this aim—to join forces around the world in order to generate as many powerful prayers as possible for the recognition of Rinpoche’s unmistaken incarnation. Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Swift Return Prayers
There are many events and activities being organized around the world for powerful prayers dedicated to Rinpoche’s swift return during this merit-multiplying period.
One precious opportunity that is available for all to join is once again being organized by Root Institute. Powerful prayers will be recited for the return of our precious master Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche at the seat of enlightenment under the bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodhgaya.
Everyone can join online or offline by downloading the free prayer book, From the Seat of Enlightenment. Root Institute will be livestreaming the prayer session daily 5-6 pm Indian time on their YouTube channel. Updates and news will also be posted on their Facebook page. The prayers are part of Root Institutes’ Festival of Lights and Merits with extensive offerings of lights, flowers and various pujas and practices available for sponsorship. This year, they are also hosting a 100,000 water bowl offering retreat at the stupa.
Kopan Monastery and Nalanda Monastery host Gelug Monlam
During the Fifteen Days of Miracles, many Tibetan monasteries hold a Great Prayer Festival, which originates from Lama Tsongkhapa. Kopan Monastery continues to host the Great Prayer Festival on behalf of the FPMT annually since 1998.
According to the wish of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Nalanda Monastery in France will be hosting its third annual Gelug Monlam from February 28 to March 4. A Monlam Chenmo Prayer Book is available for centers or students who wish to host their own Prayer Festival or recite some of those prayers during this period.
Anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s Passing Away
Lama Yeshe at Chenrezig Institute, Australia, 1975. Photo donated by Wendy Finster, courtesy of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.
Losar is a special time for the FPMT organization as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s parinirvana at dawn of Losar in 1984. Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised to offer extensive Lama Chöpa with tsog on this special day.
Rinpoche’s advice for a short Tibetan text, translated and with commentary by Rinpoche, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away, explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche 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. Of course, students are also encouraged to share stories of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, particularly now that Rinpoche has shown the aspect of passing away, this is a wonderful opportunity to keep these stories of our founders alive.
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 since 2022 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.
Offerings on Losar
During the fifteen days of Losar, the FPMT Puja Fund will be sponsoring recitation of Kangyur, recitation of Guhyasamaja root text, Medicine Buddha Puja, and 1,000 sets of offerings to Namgyalma and recitation of the Chanting the Names of Manjushri (Jampal Tshen Jo) for the swift return of our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as well as many additional pujas and prayers. The Puja Fund will also be making monetary offerings to all the sangha, to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus; and offering saffron, new coat of paint, umbrella, and new robes to holy objects in India and Nepal. Gold will also be offered to the statue of Lama Yeshe at Kopan Monastery. Please consider sharing information about this vast offering and extensive prayers that have been specifically set up by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the benefit of the whole organization and all beings.
Rejoice!
Please join us in rejoicing in all the meritorious activities happening within the FPMT organization and around the world on this auspicious merit-multiplying period!
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.