Choe Khor Sum Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation & Study Center, will celebrate Saka Dawa, the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha's birth, enlightenment and paranirvana, on June 18, 2008. Saka Dawa is the most sacred day of the year according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The karmas created by virtuous and non-virtuous activities performed that day are believed to multiply by 100 000 times.

All day long event will be conducted by monks from Sera Jey monastery and will include Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara, Guru Puja, an introductory talk on basics of Buddhism and guided meditation sessions.

Tara represents the wisdom and compassion of all the enlightened beings in a female form. Praying to Tara eliminates obstacles to the fulfillment of one’s wishes in general and in particular of the spiritual path.

Guru Puja is an offering to the Spiritual Master, who’s considered the root and life-force of the spiritual path in order to receive blessings and generate realizations on the path to enlightenment.

Schedule:

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: a talk on "Introduction to Buddhism”

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Four Mandala Offerings to Cittamani Tara

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Guru Puja

Choe Khor Sum Ling (CKSL) is a center for studying and practicing Mahayana Buddhism. The center whose name means "The Sanctuary of the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma" was founded in 2003 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche under the guidance of HH the XIV Dalai Lama. CKSL offers courses on Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on the aspects of the Graduated Path to Enlightenment. Teachings are free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English). In addition to regular teachings every few weeks the Center invites senior Lamas to give talks on important aspects of the Buddhist path. Such talks are also accompanied by instructions and initiations by the Lama into different meditation practices and also include group meditation sessions.