Shakyamuni Day 2024

Shakyamuni Day (aka Saka Dawa Düchen, Vesak Day) is Thursday, May 23, 2024.

On Shakyamuni Day (aka Saka Dawa Düchen, aka Vesak) we commemorate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. Ponlop Rinpoche has said Shakyamuni Day is an important holiday for Nalandabodhi members. It is the most important of the four Düchens. Rinpoche encourages us to take this day as a religious holiday off from work to focus on practice and the accumulation of merit—positivity and kindness. In that spirit, please observe a vegetarian diet for the day, or longer.

Shakyamuni Day is a family-friendly holiday. Our observance at Nalanda West will begin with an adult program and practice as well as activities for children. This will be followed by a Shakyamuni Day address by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and the “Bathing the Baby Buddha” ceremony with Acharya Jampa, offered both onsite and online for the entire international sangha, young and old alike. In addition, Lama Rabten will make brief remarks about the significance of this day in the Tibetan Buddhist context, and Mitra Mark will offer some words on its relevance in the 21st century. The remainder of the day will be left to individuals, families, and centers to celebrate as they wish. Upon registration a resource page will be shared offering some suggestions. A complete schedule of events can be found below.

Format

Hybrid: Onsite at Nalanda West and Online.

Recordings of all of the talks (including Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche’s address), will be available on the Resource Page for 2 weeks after the holiday. Please register for access to the Resource Page

Schedule

all times are Seattle local (Pacific Time)

The hybrid portion of the zoom broadcast will be followed by social hour with light refreshments downstairs in the Community Room at Nalanda West.

Click here to see the start time in your local timezone.

Questions?

Please contact the program coordinator, Karen de Luna <karendeluna@nalandabodhi.org>.