Tokyo: Tibetan and Japanese people observe the Saka Dawa’s full moon day (Tsepa Chonga), the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, on 25 May 2024 with prayers and informative talk series at Tibet House Office.
Tashi Yangzom from the Tibet House Japan welcomed the gathering and offered khatag to a portrait of His Holiness the Dalia Lama to pay homage to the enlightened beings whose teachings continue to inspire and guide the community. She emphasised that Saka Dawa represents the most sacred month in Tibetan Buddhism of this auspicious day and expressed her gratitude to all the attendees for their presence and participation.
Kunchok Sither of the Potala College gave a concise overview of Buddha’s life and explained that Saka Dawa, also known as Buddha Purnima, is a highly revered day, which occurs on the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar and celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and demise of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. The day is marked by observing spiritual practices and is deemed particularly auspicious for accruing merit.
Kunchok further emphasised that positive actions taken on this day are thought to have their merit greatly magnified. Many Buddhists engaged in virtuous activities, including making offerings, reciting prayers, and engaging in acts of generosity.
Later all the participants performed an hour-long prayer recitation including chants and mantras, which were recited to invoke blessings and create a sense of spiritual harmony. Following the prayers, Kunchok and Professor Yumiko Ishihama of Waseda University addressed a few questions by the participants.
The prayer service concluded with the distribution of tea, croissant and tsog offerings to all the participants. Many shared their profound satisfaction in performing religious acts on this holy day and were thankful to depart with tsog offerings for their families.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Tokyo