Lhabab Duchen
“Lord Buddha never put much emphasis
on belief. Instead, he exhorted us to investigate and try to understand the reality of our own being. He never stressed that we had to know what he was, what a buddha is. All he wanted was for us to understand our own nature. Isn’t that so simple? We don’t have to believe in anything. Simply by making the right effort, we understand things through our own experience, and gradually develop all realizations.”
― Thubten Yeshe, Becoming Your Own Therapist
Join us in celebrating Lhabab Duchen, the day when the Buddha descended from the God Realm of Thirty-Three after sharing the Dharma with the gods and his mother. This holiday is a Buddha Multiplying Day when karmic actions are one hundred million times stronger.
Today, just like any other day, is a perfect opportunity to engage more earnestly in one’s practice. Following the advice of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche for Merit Multiplying Days, we are offering an array of meritorious practices, including a meditation that will help us examine the limitations of samsaric bliss and come come closer to the everlasting bliss of liberation and enlightenment by developing wisdom and compassion.
Practices
- Verses for the Eight Auspicious Noble Ones
- Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels
- Extensive tonglen meditation on compassion and emptiness
- Shakyamuni Puja
- Dedication and King of Prayers
Please click on the links above to access the PDF texts for the practices.
Prayer Requests
You are welcome to request a dedication. Please email by (DATE) to prayers@shantidevanyc.org and indicate “Lhabab Duchen Prayers” in the subject line.
May the Buddha Dharma flourish and spread forth to all sentient beings in the ten directions!
Recordings
About the Teacher
Venerable Amy Miller has been teaching extensively since 1992 and was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Venerable Choden Rinpoche. She has previously directed several FPMT centers and projects for decades and has completed a seven-month solitary retreat. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living. Venerable teaches and leads retreats and pilgrimages around the world. Her teaching schedule and other information can be found at www.AmyMiller.com.