Lama Yeshe, Kopan, 1970, Photo courtesy Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has recently reminded FPMT centers to offer extensive Lama Chöpa with Tsog on Losar (Tibetan New Year) in honor of the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s passing away. Rinpoche added that it would be good to do this at 5 a.m., the time when Lama Yeshe manifested death. This year, Losar is on February 9.

In addition to this, Rinpoche also said for centers to start the tradition of telling stories about Lama Yeshe every Losar to keep his memory alive, for example, by inviting older students who knew Lama to share their favorite stories, or by watching video or reading published stories of Lama. This Losar marks the 32nd year since Lama Yeshe’s passing away.

Losar also marks the beginning of the 15 Days of Miracles, a period when Lord Buddha performed many miracles to benefit others. Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school, established the Great Prayer Festival (Monlam Chenmo) to coincide with this special occasion in 1409.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic, teaches that the karmic results of non-virtuous and virtuous actions are multiplied by one hundred million during Buddha Multiplying Days such as these. It is a very powerful time to practice – such as taking the eight Mahayana precepts, completing nyung näs, and reciting sutras – and strengthen one’s commitment to engaging in virtuous activity.

Find advice and inspiration from Lama Yeshe (http://bit.ly/lama-yeshe-teachings) in the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and on FPMT.org (https://fpmt.org/tag/lama-yeshe).

For more information about Losar, visit Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice page.