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On Losar, Kopan nuns taking a pinch of chemar as New Year greeting, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, February 2019. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
The Fifteen Days of Miracles—beginning on the first day of the Tibetan New Year, Losar, on March 3, 2022—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. The Days of Miracles culminate on Chotrul Duchen on March 18, 2022, which is the full moon and the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar.
All fifteen days are merit-multiplying days, when the merit of virtuous actions performed on these days is multiplied by 100 million, according to the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Because of this, the Fifteen Days of Miracles are a time for pilgrimage and intensive Dharma practice. Many Tibetan monasteries, including Kopan Monastery in Nepal, participate in a Great Prayer Festival—Monlam Chenmo—for several days or even weeks, during which the sangha recite prayers from morning until evening. This year there will be a Monlam Chenmo at a monastery in Swayambhu that Kopan monks will be attending.
Advice for Losar and the Fifteen Days of Miracles
For the FPMT organization, Losar is a special time as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s parinirvana at dawn of Losar in 1984. This Losar marks thirty-eight years since the passing away of Lama Yeshe. New this year is a short Tibetan text translated and commented on by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Advice for the Anniversary of the Guru’s Passing Away. This text explains the importance of making offerings on the anniversary of the passing away of one’s guru and can be integrated into Losar practices.
You can find Rinpoche’s advice for merit-multiplying days, including the Fifteen Days of Miracles, collected online. (Find advice for merit-multiplying days in French and practice materials for merit-multiplying days in other languages.) If you decide to recite the Sutra of Golden Light on these special days, please report your recitations on the Sutra of Golden Light reporting page.
Please keep in mind: In accordance with the advice of Ven. Choden Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachers, Lama Zopa Rinpoche observes all the auspicious dates in the Buddhist calendar by Indian Standard time, instead of any other local time.
Puja Fund Activities for the FPMT Organization
Swayambhu Stupa to which offerings are made during merit-multiplying days, Nepal, March 2021. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
On merit-multiplying days, the Puja Fund sponsors extensive pujas and sutra recitations. During the fifteen days of miracles, 650 monks at Gyurme Tantric College will recite the Prajnaparamita, and 600 monks at Gyuto Tantric College will offer Namgyäl Tong Chö. There will be smaller pujas offered at Sera Lachi, Gaden Lachi, and Drepung Lachi Monasteries.
These prayers are dedicated to all FPMT centers, projects, and services; all students, volunteers, and those offering service within the FPMT organization; and to all beings in general.
Offerings are also made to all of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and to sangha in FPMT’s international sangha communities. In addition, robes are offered to the Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, new parasols and whitewash are offered to Boudha and Swayambhu stupas, and sutras are printed.
Please join us in rejoicing in these offerings, especially remembering them on the actual days, when one’s merit is multiplied 100 million times.
Losar Tashi Delek! Happy Tibetan New Year!
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.
You can find a full catalogue of FPMT prayers, practices, and advice materials on FPMT.org.
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