| The word Losar is a
Tibetan word for New Year. LO means year and SAR means new.
In Tibetan Buddhism it is a spiritual occasion coupled with
a celebration.
Sangha members shared in their first Losar celebration on
Sunday March 2, 2003 at the Center. Lama Tsondru Sangpo
kindly provided instruction as to the rituals and meaning
of Losar.
A photo record of the event was made by Sangha
member Joseph Azoti. Soon thereafter a text describing the
day was prepared by Sangha member Paul Amendola. These have
been combined to produce the record below:
Lama
Tsondru Sangpo
Through Lama
Tsondru Sangpo’s measureless kindness, I recently
had the opportunity to sit with him and learn more about
Losar, its meaning and some of the symbology of this very
special and important time of year.
Losar, the beginning
of the Tibetan New Year according to the Rigpa Tibetan Calendar,
occurs on March 3rd of the Gregorian calendar. For Tibetans,
and those of us who study the Dharma, the first fifteen
days of the New Year are extremely important. It is during
this time that all of our positive and negative actions
are magnified 100,000 times!
But what is the reason our actions are multiplied so? It
is because Buddha Shakyamuni spent one day in each of fifteen
different realms spreading the teachings of the Dharma.
On the fifteenth day he returned to the human realm to defeat
those who opposed the Dharma, the Thirtikas. (A Tirthika
is defined as someone who has neither connection with nor
capacity to understand or embrace the teachings of the Buddha).
Buddha Shakyamuni was successful in turning the minds of
most of them towards the Dharma. In many cases, this change
was extremely swift.
As always, it
all comes down to karma, action and reaction. Therefore,
it is important during these fifteen days to focus our minds
on positive actions and strive to eliminate from ourselves
all negative activity.
History gives us a prime example of the power of karma.
Milarepa was a great teacher and master of realization.
As a young student he made an offering of an empty container
to one of his teachers. This, of course, was not a good
sign. As a result, Milarepa found it difficult throughout
the rest of his life to find food.
Since we are unsure of the opportunities and possibilities
our lives may hold for us in the coming year we must create
good signs and seek the blessings and the help of all the
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. We do this by practicing generosity,
compassion and wisdom and by making offerings to the Buddha,
the Dharma and the Sangha.
An example of
one of these offerings is the bread-like loaves we all saw
on the shrine; these are called “Khapsay” and
are made from barley, one of Tibet’s main crops. These
loaves are presented as an offering in the hope that the
coming year’s crop will be rich and bountiful. Other
material offerings include butter lamps, flowers and incense.
In addition, mental offerings of mind, body and speech are
made.
During
the Losar ceremony each participant is given a plate of
rice made with saffron and troma to eat.
Troma is a special tiny bulbous root that grows wild in
Tibet. Roughly translated troma means: “good luck”
and so its use as an offering is very auspicious.
For our Losar ceremony, raisins were used due to the unavailability
of troma in the United States. This food symbolizes offering
all of one’s bodies, enjoyments, possessions and glories
of the succession of all of one’s lifetimes to the
three Jewels.
The raising of
a prayer flag is also an important part of Losar because
it benefits oneself as well as all sentient beings. It pleases
all the deities and dharmapalas. The pole symbolizes the
reader of the mantras and prayers written on the flag itself.
The wind represents speech. When the wind moves the flag,
the prayers are read into the wind.
The prayers are carried countless miles and will benefit
all those whom the wind touches! Prayer flags are Banners
of Victory; that is, they indicate that the Dharma is flourishing.
Per Lama Tsondru Sangpo’s recommendation, I will reproduce
below page 62 of the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro. This page describes
the pure intention of why one would seek to raise a prayer
flag:
“In the
world in general and in this nation, may not even the names
of disease, famine, war and suffering be heard. May virtuous
qualities, merit and prosperity greatly increase. And may
continuous good fortune and sublime well-being perfectly
arise.”
During Losar,
it is customary for everyone to go to their own local monastery
to make these offerings, recite prayers and receive blessings
and teachings from their own Rinpoches. After this, one
would journey to other monasteries to visit Dharma practitioners,
make offerings and receive blessings and teachings from
other Rinpoches as well.
At some point, one would travel to their parent’s
home to again make offerings and give thanks. Finally, one
would visit with friends and relatives.
I would like
to thank Lama Tsondru Sangpo, Tashi La and Sangay Chopel
for sharing with us the precious Dharma and all of their
Tibetan customs. As part of the Losar celebration, they
cooked a wonderful meal for the entire Sangha.
We spent the
entire day relaxing, laughing, enjoying each other’s
company and talking about the Dharma. It was wonderful.
At the end of the day when everyone had left, the table
was covered with half filled cups, empty plates, dishes
and dirty napkins. All this was left overnight and into
the next day to symbolize the continuation of many such
dinners in the future.
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