Saka Dawa celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (when a buddha passes away and leaves his or her earthly body). On this day, Buddhists around the world engage in many prayers and practices, make extensive offerings to teachers and holy objects, and perform charitable activities. This occasion is an excellent opportunity for beneficial thoughts, speech, and actions, and to dedicate ourselves to practice and study. 

The karmic results of everything we do on this day are multiplied by 100 million, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as cited in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

We encourage you to make a special offering on your altar: fruit, sweets, or flowers, which will create an abundance of positive energy.

Since the month of Saka Dawa is an auspicious time to create merit, we invite you to make an offering to help sustain Shantideva Center. The practice of generosity strengthens our karmic connections to the teachings and our teachers, now and in the future. It also serves as the cause for our own future prosperity and opens the heart to our interconnectedness. 

PRACTICES:

1. The Heart Sutra (via FPMT store) 
2. Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels (PDF) 
3.  King of Prayers (via FPMT store) 
4. Chanting the Names of Manjushri (via FPMT store) 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

You are welcome to request a dedication. Please email by May 22 to prayers@shantidevanyc.org and indicate “Saka Dawa Prayers” in the subject line. 

Today, just like any other day, is a perfect opportunity to engage more earnestly in one’s practice. May the Buddhadharma flourish and spread forth to all sentient beings in the ten directions!