Dear Friends and Students of Rinpoche,
Many Greetings and Tashi Delek from Jampa Ling.
On Sunday 2nd March, Jampa Ling will celebrate Losar, the Tibetan New Year. Tibetan years are named after either a male or a female animal, together with one of the elements. 2014 will be the Year of the Male Horse year in Tibet, Traditionally people do not have individual birthdays, they all celebrate their birthday at Losar.
We would like to invite everyone to come and enjoy the Losar ceremony and lunch here with us. In the shrine room, traditional Tibetan New Year offerings will have already been made on behalf of everyone, symbolising the ripening and coming to fruition of all good and pure things. They are represented by:
Chaimar (roasted ground barley and butter), Kapsai (biscuits of flour, water and butter), Daisi (white rice and raisins in melted butter) and Shinto (dried fruit offering). After the welcome, Desmond tells a children’s story, sure to be amusing! The main part of the day is prayers which are said for the coming year, including prayers for peace. It also involves some traditional rituals like smoke puja. Then, as it is our precious Lama Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche’s birthday as well as all Tibetans’ birthdays, we offer khatas as a birthday greeting to him with a heartfelt wish that he remain with us to teach the Dharmas. Khatas are auspicious offerings symbolising complete wholeness and peace. Don’t worry if you don’t have a khata, there are sure to be khatas available on the day.
If you would like to arrive any time from approx 10:30am, we are going to begin the smoke puja at 11.00am.
Please bring food to share and an offering for the Shrine Room.
If you are bringing food please kindly write on a card if it is dairy, wheat, sugar – free, or indicate your ingredients.
Looking forward to see you all!
With best wishes and prayers,
Jampa Ling
