Lha Bab Düchen
November 4 All day
Lha Bab Düchen (lha babs dus chen) in Tibetan translates as “The Festival of the Descent from Heaven”.
On this 22nd day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendar, we celebrate the Buddha’s descent from Heaven. The Buddha’s mother passed away shortly after his birth and was reborn in heaven. Buddha taught for three months in the realm of the gods to repay his mother’s kindness and to liberate her. He taught the Dharma there also to benefit the gods.
When he was ready to return, the gods Indra and Brahma manifested three jeweled staircases. As the Buddha walked down the central one, they accompanied him holding large umbrellas as a sign of respect. The Buddha descended to earth at Sāṃkāśya (modern Sankisa). This place is one of the eight great pilgrimage places in India.
On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. Therefore, it is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.
To you, the King of Śākyas, we pay homage!
You may wish to practice the Treasury of Blessings sadhana, composed by Mipham Rinpoche to mark this day. Phakchok Rinpoche also encourages students to take the opportunity to make merit by lighting butter lamps on this auspicious occasion.
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