Chokhor Duchen, also called the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, is one of the four great holy days in Tibetan Buddhism. It commemorates the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching. It is said that for seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. However, when asked after the seventh week, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha accepted the request and turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath, India, where he taught on the four noble truths.

Venerable Amy Miller with lead us in taking the eight Mahayana precepts to commemorate Chokhor Duchen, which is a “merit-multiplying” day. According to Buddhist texts, the karmic results of all virtuous actions are magnified by one hundred million times on these auspicious days. These precepts encourage those who take them to commit to live within the highest standards of ethical discipline for a short time, refraining from the nonvirtuous actions of body, speech, and mind that can harm not only other living beings, but also one’s own mind. The eight Mahayana precepts will be offered online only starting at 5:30 am, before sunrise.

The eight Mahayana precepts are:

1. To not kill any sentient being, even an insect.
2. To not steal, that is, to not take what has not been given.
3. To not engage in sexual activity.
4. To not tell lies.
5. To not take intoxicants, including alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
6. To not eat food at the wrong time, that is, after noon.
7. To not sit on large and high seats and beds.
8. To not wear perfume, garlands, and ornaments and to not sing, dance, and so forth.