Join us in Prayer for the Earthquake Victims in Nepal

In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that have rocked the city of Kathmandu and north-eastern Nepal, celebrating the Buddhist holy month of Saga Dawa may not seem like a great concern. But for Buddhists across Nepal and around the world, the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, which is known as the ‘month of merit’, can be a time of great energy, efforts, and offerings for us all.

According to Buddhist tradition, the full moon of the fourth month commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of the historical Buddha. This day, called Saga Dawa Düchen, is the single most important day in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar.  It is said that on this day one can multiply the merit of positive actions to the power of 100,000. This year Saga Dawa Düchen falls on June 2.

The Chokgyur Lingpa Foundation (CGLF), who has been heavily involved in earthquake relief efforts since the first quake struck on April 25, will be hosting a special event this Saga Dawa Düchen.  This special occasion will provide an opportunity to commemorate the dead and uplift the spirits of those who have survived the earthquakes.

On the night of the full moon a candle-light vigil will take place simultaneously at the Great Stupa of Boudhanath, CGLF’s mother monastery of Ka-Nying in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, and in all the mountain villages where monks and nuns from the monastery have been delivering aid. Light offerings will be made and sadhanas and prayers will be recited through the night in memory of those that have passed away and in support of the survivors.

To increase the potency of this event, CGLF would like to invite all students and affiliated centres, groups, and individuals from around the world to partake in the vigil. By offering lights, incense, and prayers on this most auspicious of days, and by dedicating the accumulated merit to the victims and survivors of the Nepali earthquakes, all the sangha, in Nepal and internationally, will be united in prayer and intention.

How to Participate in this Event

Please join us on the night of June 2 at 8pm Nepal time (+5:45GMT) so everywhere around the world butter lamps and candles will be lit in unison and our prayers will rise together.

This event will also be live-streamed. Click here to view the stream page. 

It is Phakchok Rinpoche’s wish that our global sangha join together on June 2nd, the day known as Saga Dawa Düchen, to coordinate a candlelight vigil at 8pm Nepali time.  If it is possible, please invite a group of people who would like to join in these prayers. If you have a dharma group or a center, please request that the group come together for this event.

This event is open to everyone so please invite your local sangha members and also your wider community of friends and neighbors.  Organizers should make sure to supply enough candles to provide for everyone or ask people to bring their own.

Rinpoche has suggested that we follow the Refuge and Bodhichitta prayers along with the Lamp Aspiration prayers as found in the Rangjung Yeshe chant book. We have also included these below. All attendees should be invited to light a candle and make genuine heart-felt aspirations. Rinpoche would like us to dedicate the merits we accumulate from this vigil to the rejuvenation and improvement of life in earthquake-stricken areas and that those who have been affected will have much more beautiful and harmonious lives. Through this vigil and the offering of lights, may we all be linked to the light of compassion, the light of wisdom, the light of selflessness, the light of love.  Let us aspire that all may live in the wish-fulfilling light.

If you feel like doing a more sustained practice, further recommended prayer suggestions can be found here.

Please remember to take lots of photos so we can all share around the world. We would appreciate if you would send those photos to [email protected]. for use in our ongoing Earthquake Relief campaign.

Prayers and Dedications

Phakchok Rinpoche has requested that we recite the following text and that we dedicate the merits we accumulate from this vigil to the rejuvenation and improvement of life in earthquake-stricken areas, and pray that those who have been affected will have much more beautiful and harmonious lives.

Refuge

Lamp Aspiration

Dedication of Merit