Losar (Tibetan New Year)

There will be an Extensive Medicine Buddha Monday, March 1st, 2 – 5 pm – still within the karmic multiplying days.

We are honored to host a generally strong presence by the local Tibetan community so the morning pujas and prayers will be performed in Tibetan and led by Ven. Samten, our resident Tibetan monk.

The altar will be set up with traditional fried pastries (kap-se), butter sculptures, and other offerings representing prosperity. Recitations in Tibetan will include:

A vegetarian potluck lunch in the dining room will follow the mornings pujas and prayers.

It is also traditional to greet each other with the Tibetan greeting: “Losar tashi delek” (“low-sar tashee deh-leh”).

At one time, The Buddha was staying with hundreds of fully ordained monks in the Bamboo Grove outside Rajagriha. The ruler of that country, King Bimbisara, was one of The Buddha’s greatest patrons. In loyalty and respect for The Buddha and his monks, the King led many of his subjects to the practice of the teaching. Six heretical teachers were also staying there at that time, and their deceptive teachings were the cause of many unskillful actions. King Bimbisara’s younger brother followed these teachers and made great offerings to them, thinking they taught the path to liberation. As a result he became defiled by error, so that even though The Buddha was showing the glories of enlightenment, he did not see it. King Bimbisara persuaded his brother to give up his erroneous ideas but his brother replied, “I have my own teacher. Why should I listen to The Buddha?”

Nevertheless, feeling that he should respect King Bimbisara’s feelings, the brother decided to give a feast, offering food and gifts to all who came. The six teachers came and sat in the highest seats. When The Buddha and his disciples arrived, they walked toward the few remaining seats, but before they could reach them, the six teachers found themselves getting up from the highest seats and taking the lower. They tried three times to take the higher seats, but each time found themselves in the lower. Finally, feeling ashamed, they remained there.

Before the food was served, water was brought to the guests so they could wash their hands. As The Buddha was in the highest seat, his host offered the water to him first, but he said, “Offer it first to your teachers.” The water was then offered to them, but when the vessel was tipped, nothing flowed into their hands. The host tried again and again, but still the water would not flow. He then offered it again to The Buddha. The water flowed freely to The Buddha, and after that to everyone.

Before they ate, the host asked The Buddha to bless the food. He deferred again to the six teachers, saying, “Request the blessing from your own teachers.” But when the six teachers tried to pray, they were unable to utter a single word and gestured that The Buddha should say the blessing. The Buddha did so with a clear, beautiful voice, and the food was offered first to him, but he said once more, “Offer it first to your teachers.” The food was then offered to them, but everything they tried to take flew into the air. After food was taken by The Buddha, everything came down into their hands.

After the meal, the host made the customary request to The Buddha for teaching. The Buddha again deferred to the six, saying, “Have your teachers speak of their doctrines.” Again the six teachers, unable to speak a single word, could only motion for The Buddha to speak. He spoke in a beautiful voice and each listener heard what fitted his own needs. Everyone’s understanding increased greatly. Even King Bimbisara’s knowledge grew from high to higher. Many attained the first to the third stages of liberation; others expanded their bodhi-mind, and some attained the supreme bodhi-mind. A great number of people attained the stage of non-returning, and others, attaining what they prayed for, developed great faith in the Three Jewels. From then on, the people of Rajagriha followed the The Buddha.

The six teachers went away, angry at having lost their followers. They asked Mara’s demons to help curtail the The Buddha’s activities. The demons manifested as the six teachers and went to the marketplace to perform various miraculous deeds – shooting water, flames and lights of many colors from their bodies. People marveled at these deeds and became their followers. To them the demons proclaimed, “Through the wickedness of Gautama we have fallen into misfortune. All the kings, Brahmins, and great patrons who used to worship us and bring us offerings now no longer respect us. Now these people are running after Gautama, giving him everything they used to give us. We challenge Gautama – for every one of his miracles we will do two; if he does sixteen, we will do thirty-two. People shall see for themselves who is more powerful.”

The six teachers went to King Bimbisara and asked him to deliver their challenge to The Buddha. The King laughed at their arrogance. “You are foolish. Your miraculous deeds cannot begin to compare to those of The Buddha. Your challenge is like the light of a firefly compared with sunlight, like the water in an ox’s hoof print compared with the ocean. It is like the fox challenging the lion.” The six pundits persisted, saying, “You will see. What happened before is no indication of what will happen now. When we compete, it will be clear who is the greater.”

King Bimbisara visited The Buddha and told him of the challenge: “Those six teachers want to compare their miraculous deeds with those of the Tathagata. Will you please show them your powers to reverse their wrong views and lead them to do virtuous work? When you do this, may I be there?” The Buddha replied, “The time will be known. Prepare a suitable place.” King Bimbisara had his ministers clean and prepare a broad field. There they erected a lion throne and victory banners of the conqueror Buddha. People eagerly awaited the sight of The Buddha and the six teachers performing their miracles. However, to everyone’s surprise, The Buddha left Rajagriha and went to the neighboring city of Vaisali.

The people of Vaisali, the Licchavi, welcomed the Tathagata. When the six teachers heard that The Buddha had gone to Vaisali, they proclaimed, “Gautama is afraid of us. He has run away!” And they followed after him. King Bimbisara, with five hundred carriages, elephants, horses, provisions, and thousands of attendants and ministers went to Vaisali. The six teachers took their challenge to the King of the Licchavi, and he came to The Buddha, saying, “Please show your miraculous powers and subdue these men.” Again The Buddha answered, “All in good time,” and told them to prepare a place.

But again he went to another country, Kausambi, followed by a great multitude and the six pundits. King Udrayana and the people of Kausambi welcomed The Buddha. Through King Udrayana, the six teachers again issued their challenge to The Buddha, who again replied: “The time is known. Prepare a place.” King Udrayana made great preparations, but The Buddha went on to War, the land of King Shun Tsin. From War he went to Tigitsashiri, which was ruled by King Brahmadatta. From there he went to Kapila, the country of his own people, the Sakyas, and finally he went to Sravasti, the land of King Prasenajit. He was followed there by the Kings of the countries he had passed through, along with thousands of their attendants, and by the six teachers with their ninety thousand followers.

The six teachers went to King Prasenajit, saying, “We have prepared our miraculous deeds. Much time has passed since we challenged Gautama, and he is still running away.” King Prasenajit replied, laughing. “You know nothing, yet you want to challenge the great king of Dharma. Such people as yourselves cannot be compared with him.” But to quiet them, King Prasenajit visited The Buddha and said, “Those six teachers want to challenge you. Please show your miraculous powers and subdue them.” Again The Buddha replied, “The time is known. Prepare a suitable place.” King Prasenajit had his ministers clean and prepare a wide field, burning incense and placing there a lion throne and the banners of the Conqueror.

On the first day of spring, The Buddha went to the field that had been prepared for him and sat upon the lion throne before the multitude. After King Prasenajit’s great offerings, the Tathagata took a toothpick and placed it in the ground. It grew at once into a marvelous tree. On its branches, which extended for kilometers, grew beautiful leaves, flowers, fruit, and jewels of every kind. The multi- colored light emanating from the jewels was as brilliant as the light of the sun and moon combined. When the branches of the tree rustled in the wind, the sounds of the teaching were heard. Then The Buddha himself spoke to the multitude. Many of the people listening progressed greatly – some attained arhatship and millions ripened the seeds for rebirth in the high states of humans or gods.

On the second day of spring, King Udrayana made great offerings to The Buddha. The Tathagata then turned his head right and left, and on either side of the lion throne a jewel mountain emerged. On each mountain flowed a magical spring whose water had eight different tastes. One mountain was covered with lush grass to feed and satisfy animals, while the other was covered with special food to satisfy humans. The Buddha then spoke the teaching according to each person’s ability, and many were freed. Some of those present generated the supreme bodhi-mind, and many established the inclination for rebirth as humans or gods.

On the third day, King Shun Tsin of War made offerings to the Tathagata. After eating, The Buddha rinsed his mouth with water. On the ground where the water fell, a great lake formed which extended for three hundred kilometers. The water had eight tastes, and the bottom of the lake was covered with seven kinds of jewels. Great quantities of lotus flowers of every color grew on its surface, and their fragrance filled the air; by the rays of light extending from them in all directions, the people could see everywhere. When the people saw this, they were very happy, and when The Buddha taught, some attained arhatship, some increased their bodhi-mind, and many others attained the seeds of rebirth in the worlds of humans or gods.

On the fourth day, King Indravarma prepared the offerings for The Buddha. The Buddha created a pool from which eight streams flowed outward in circular paths, and to which they returned. In the sound of the streams people heard the teachings of the five powers, the five strengths, the seven aspects of bodhi-mind, the eightfold path, the three principles of the path to liberation, the six kinds of omniscience and the four immeasurables. From this teaching many attained understanding of the effects of Buddhahood and many attained rebirth in the high states of humans or gods. Hundreds of thousands increased their virtuous work.

On the fifth day, King Brahmadatta of Varanasi prepared various offerings for The Buddha. From the Tathagata shone a golden light that filled the entire world. This light reached all living beings and purified the defilements of the three poisons: desire, hatred and ignorance. All beings became peaceful in body and mind, and those assembled rejoiced greatly. When The Buddha spoke, many increased their bodhi-mind, many planted seeds of rebirth as humans or gods, and a countless number increased their virtuous work.

On the sixth day, the Licchavi people made offerings to The Buddha. The Buddha then enabled all who were there to see into each other’s minds and each one saw the others’ good and bad thoughts. All experienced great faith and praised the knowledge of The Buddha. The Tathagata then taught the holy Dharma and many attained great understanding—some attained bodhi-mind, some arhatship, and an immeasurable number attained rebirth as humans and gods.

On the seventh day, The Buddha’s own clan, the Sakyas, made offerings to him. He blessed all the listeners so that they became great chakravartins (universal kings that support the Dharma), each possessing seven magic jewels. Each ruled his own small country and had many respectful ministers. All were very happy with this and when The Buddha spoke they had great faith. Having increased their bodhi-mind, many attained arhatship and others sowed seeds of rebirth as humans or gods.

On the eighth day, Indra invited The Buddha and prepared a great lion throne. When the Tathagata was seated, Indra himself made offerings on The Buddha’s left while Brahma made offerings on his right. They bowed down before him while the people sat quietly. The Buddha placed his right hand on the lion throne in the earth-touching mudra, and there was a great sound of trumpeting elephants. Five fierce demons came roaring forth and the thrones of the six teachers were destroyed. After the demons, Vajrapani came, with flames shooting from the point of his vajra. The six teachers were terrified and jumped into the water and disappeared. Their teachers having deserted them, the ninety thousand attendants took refuge in The Buddha and asked to become fully ordained monks. The Buddha welcomed them and the matted locks and beards that had marked them as disciples of the six teachers miraculously disappeared. The Buddha taught all of them according to their individual ability to understand. Freeing themselves from the fetters of desire, hatred and ignorance, each attained arhatship. Then the Tathagata radiated eighty-four thousand rays of light from the pores of his body, so that the light filled the entire sky. On the point of each ray was a beautiful lotus, and on top of each lotus appeared a Buddha along with his attendants. Each Buddha was teaching the Tathagata’s doctrine. All felt joy at this sight, and their faith was greatly increased. Then The Buddha spoke the holy Dharma and many increased their bodhi-mind, some attaining arhatship, and a countless number produced the inclination to take rebirth as humans or gods.

On the ninth day, Brahmaraja made offerings to The Buddha. The Tathagata extended his body until it reached the highest heaven of Brahma. From this body rays of light shone in all directions, and from this great height he gave the teaching.

On the tenth day, the four great kings who protect the Dharma invited The Buddha to speak. Again he extended his body until it reached the height of samsara. Rays of light streamed from him, showing the teachings.