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

The documents below will be shared online. If you wish to download the documents from the FPMT store, it is advised to do so prior to the event.

Prayer Requests

You are welcome to request a dedication. Please email by November 3, 2023 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!

Recording

Past recording of Venerable Amy Miller in 2022 celebrating Lhabab Duchen with the Shantideva Center community.