November 20th, 2016

Lha Bab Düchen, the ‘Festival of the Descent from Heaven’. It occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth Tibetan month. Buddha’s mother Mayadevi was reborn in Indra’s heaven. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teachings in the realm of the gods. When he was about to return to this world, Indra and Brahma manifested three stairs of 80,000 yojanas each reaching this world in Sankisa. As the Buddha walked down the central one, they accompanied him to his left and right carrying umbrellas to honor him. He descended to earth in Sankisa, which is located in modern Uttar Pradesh, and which is counted among the eight holy places.

The Rime Center will be hosting a series of Shakyamuni Buddha and 1000 Arm Chenrizig Pujas as well as open meditation sessions throughout the day as an opportunity for you to come in and meditate at your own pace and time limit.

The morning will start with an opportunity to receive the 24 hour Mahayana vows for participants who haven’t received them before. In the Gihi Sutra, the Buddha said to Shariputra, “Shariputra, when you know of a householder clothed in white, that she/he is restrained in terms of the five training rules…” If having taken the 24 hour Mahayana vows and planning to stay at the Rime Center all day, you would like to wear all white as an outward sign of your commitment to purity for the day. We would encourage you to do so.

For those taking the vows and staying the entire day, please bring a vegetarian dish to share for our potluck lunch.

Schedule for Activities

5:30 am – 24-Hour Mahayana Vows Given
6 am – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Meditation
7 am – Noon – Open Meditation
12 pm – 1000 Arm Chenrezig Puja with Meditation
1 pm – 7 pm – Open Meditation
7 pm – Shakyamuni Buddha Puja with Meditation