Tokyo: Tibet House Japan and the Tibetan Community in Japan jointly organised a prayer gathering at the office to observe and celebrate the Saka Dawa’s full moon day on 4 June 2023, one of the holiest days in the Buddhist calendar.
Tashi Yangzom, Secretary of the Tibet House Japan, welcomed the gathering and informed them of the importance of prayer-gathering on this holy day to earn merits and to remember the holy deeds of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
Kunchok Sither from the Potala College gave a brief introduction on what is Saka Dawa, the month of Saka, and the significance of the full moon (Tsepa Chonga) of the day in Tibetan and the Japanese language. He said Saka Dawa represents the holiest and most sacred month in Tibetan Buddhism, which falls on the fourth month of the Tibetan Calendar. The full moon day, which is the 15th day in the Lunar calendar, is associated with three major events of the Buddha’s life, i.e. His birth, His enlightenment, and His Parinirvana.
He also gave a brief introduction to Buddha Shakyamuni`s life and then led an hour-long prayer service. Recitations of refuge prayer (semkyi), Dolma, Heart sutra (Sherab Nyinpo), In praise of dependent origination (Tendral Todpa), and recitations of Mani (Avaloketishvara`s mantra) were done. The participants include Tibetans, Japanese, Chinese, and others.
Sonam Dolker, a member of the Tibetan Community in Japan, thanked all the Tibetans, Japanese, Chinese, and others for their participation and their interest in Tibetan religious culture.
Tea and snacks were served to the participants as mangja (mass tea) and tsog (holy food). The participants contributed in the form of donations for the mangja and tsog. Some expressed great satisfaction in being able to perform religious deeds on this sacred day and felt grateful to leave with tsog offerings for the family. Some thanked the Tibet House for the religious events and requested more such religious and spiritual gatherings in the future.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan