Chökhor Düchen, the ‘Festival of Turning the Wheel of Dharma’. It occurs on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan lunar month. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Finally, encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time, at Sarnath, by teaching the ‘Four Noble Truths’.

The Rime Center will be hosting a series of Shakyamuni Buddha Pujas and open meditation sessions as an opportunity for you to come in and meditate throughout the day at your own pace and time limit.

The morning will start with participants receiving the 24 hour Mahayana vows. Please wear all white if you are going to take the vows as an outward sign of your commitment to purity for the day. As the Buddha said, “Sariputta, when you know of a householder clothed in white, that she/he is restrained in terms of the five training rules and that she/he obtains at will, without difficulty, without hardship, four pleasant mental abidings in the here & now, then if she/he wants she/he may state about themself: ‘Hell is ended; animal wombs are ended; the state of the hungry shades is ended; states of deprivation, destitution, the bad bourns are ended! I am a stream-winner, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening!’ – Gihi Sutta

Please bring a vegetarian dish to share for the potluck lunch.

Schedule for Activities

5:45 am – 24-Hour Mahayana Vows Given
6 am – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Meditation
7 am – Noon – Open Meditation
12 pm – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Meditation
1 pm – 6 pm – Open Meditation
6 pm – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Meditation