Year of the Metal Rat (2147) 2020 Important Dates

Message from Venerable Sonam Tenzin : Firstly, Venerable Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche and Venerable Namsai wish to extend to all students, supporters and friends their best wishes for a very happy New Year 2020 and the Tibetan year of the Metal Rat 2147.

In 2019, our planet experienced severe natural disasters including deadly cyclones in Africa, deadly heat waves in India and Japan, typhoons in China, earthquakes in Peru and Albania and sizzling temperatures and deadly bush fires in Australia. Therefore, Rinpoche would request that we all fervently and regularly pray to Guru Rinpoche () and to 21 Taras for more benign and favourable climatic conditions for our mother Earth during the entire year of 2020.

Rinpoche also urges you to make a strong and determined resolution to engage in virtuous activities and to refrain from committing negative deeds. By keeping this commitment on a daily basis you will not only contribute to the promulgation of peace, love and harmony in the entire world.

May you all enjoy excellent health, may your practice continue to flourish and may you always encounter happiness. May all obstacles vanish so that you move swiftly on the path to supreme enlightenment.

Calendar and important practice days: In Buddhist traditions, certain days are considered especially auspicious for particular Dharma practices. These days can be recurrent either each (Tibetan) month or annually. The information below only serves as general guidelines to important practice dates but it is essential to obtain instructions from a fully qualified teacher.

1. Buddha's Days (recurring each Tibetan month): on these days, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times: 8th Day - Medicine Buddha 10th Day - Guru Rinpoche 15th Day - Amitabha Buddha 25th Day - Dakini 30th Day - Shakyamuni Buddha

2. Eclipses: On days when Solar and Lunar eclipses fall, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10,000 times.

3. Major Buddhist Festivals (Duchen): for example, Saka Dawa Duchen, the 4th Tibetan month (from 23/05/2020 to 21/06/2020) is the most auspicious time for Dharma practice because the effects of positive actions are multiplied by Ten million times, and observance of the five basic precepts is strongly recommended. Killing of animals is not permitted and eating of black foods such as meat, is generally discouraged. Tibetan Date Practice Celebration & Commemoration month / day

01-Jan-20 11 / 6 New Year's Day 2020

03-Jan-20 11 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

05-Jan-20 11 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

09-Jan-20 11 / 14 Anniversary of Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen

10-Jan-20 11 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 10,000 Full Moon and times for Solar & Lunar Eclipses Lunar Eclipse

14-Jan-20 11 / 19 Anniversary of Taklung Thangpa, the founder of Taklung Kagyu

19-Jan-20 11 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

20-Jan-20 11 / 26 Anniversary of the 1st Jamgon Kongtrul, named Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

24-Jan-20 11 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

February 2020

02-Feb-20 12 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

04-Feb-20 12 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

09-Feb-20 12 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

18-Feb-20 12 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

23-Feb-20 12 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

24-Feb-20 1 / 1 Losar Tibetan New Year

March 2020

02-Mar-20 Medicine Buddha Anniversary of the 6th Thongwa 1 / 8 Donden

04-Mar-20 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times 1 / 10 (Padmasambhava) 08-Mar-20 Anniversary of Jetsun Milarepa, (Zhepa 1 / 14 Dorje) - the greatest Yogi of Tibet

09-Mar-20 1 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Chotrul Düchen (Day of Miracles), plus Full Moon anniversaries of Marpa Lotsawa, Garab Dorje & the 7th Karmapa, Chodrak Gyamtso. Leaders of 6 main Indian philosophical schools challenged the Buddha to a contest and Buddha Shakyamuni performed miracles for 15 days, completely overwhelming his challengers and thus inspiring people to follow the Dharma. The full moon day marks the end of 15 days of Miracles

10-Mar-20 1 / 16 Anniversary of the Grand Opening of the Barom Kagyu Temple in Sefton Sydney, Australia in 2017

15-Mar-20 1 / 21 Anniversaries of the 14th Karmapa Thekchok Dorje and the 1st Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

18-Mar-20 1 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

22-Mar-20 1 / 28 Anniversary of the 9th Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje

24-Mar-20 1 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

30-Mar-20 2 / 6 Anniversary of Tenga Rinpoche (3rd incarnation: Drong Tenga Rinpoche)

April 2020

01-Apr-20 2 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

03-Apr-20 2 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

08-Apr-20 2 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

10-Apr-20 2 / 18 Good Friday

11-Apr-20 2 / 19 Easter Saturday

12-Apr-20 2 / 20 Easter Sunday (Easter Day)

13-Apr-20 2 / 21 Easter Monday 17-Apr-20 2 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

18-Apr-20 2 / 26 Anniversary of Jetsun Taranata

22-Apr-20 2 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

24-Apr-20 3 / 2 Birthday of Bokar Chungsi Rinpoche

26-Apr-20 3 / 3 Anniversary of the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi and Birthday of HH 9th Chodrak Salje Rinpoche

May 2020

01-May-20 3 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

07-May-20 3 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

17-May-20 3 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

18-May-20 3 / 26 Anniversary of the 15th Karmapa, Khakhyap Dorje

22-May-20 3 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

24-May-20 4 / 2 Anniversary of Barom Dharma Wangchuk, the founder of Barom Kagyu Lineage

30-May-20 4 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

June 2020

01-Jun-20 4 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

05-Jun-20 4 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Saka Dawa Düchen (Vaishakha Day): Full Moon and Buddha Shakyamuni attained Lunar Eclipse Enlightenment & Paranirvana. At the age of 35 year old, Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya (India).

This is the most sacred day of all Buddhist festival days.

08-Jun-20 4 / 18 Anniversary of Patrul Rinpoche, the author of “The Words of My Perfect Teacher”

15-Jun-20 4 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times 21-Jun-20 4 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

26-Jun-20 5 / 5 His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s 35th birthday

28-Jun-20 5 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

30-Jun-20 5 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

July 2020

05-Jul-20 5 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 10,000 Full Moon and times for Solar & Lunar Eclipses Lunar Eclipse

06-Jul-20 5 / 16 His Holiness the 's 85th birthday

15-Jul-20 5 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

20-Jul-20 5 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

24-Jul-20 6 / 4 Chökhor Düchen: Buddha Shakyamuni taught the 4 Noble Truths (the First Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma at ). On this day, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10 million times

28-Jul-20 6 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

29-Jul-20 6 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) (Padmasambhava) and the birthday of A- Ten Phuntsok Rinpoche, Abbot of Chodrak Khang Nay monastery

August 2020

02-Aug-20 6 / 14 Anniversary of the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje

03-Aug-20 6 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Anniversary of Gampopa, the Physician of Full Moon Dagpo & great father of all the Kagyu lineages and the author of “The Jewel Ornament of Liberation”

14-Aug-20 6 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times 19-Aug-20 6 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

26-Aug-20 7 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

28-Aug-20 7 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

30-Aug-20 7 / 12 Anniversary of the 11th Karmapa Yeshe Dorje

September 2020

02-Sep-20 7 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Anniversaries of the 4th Karmapa Rolpe Full Moon Dorje and Kunkhyen Pema Karpo, the head of Drukpa Kagyu lineage

12-Sep-20 7 / 25 Dakini day Anniversary of Phagmodrupa

17-Sep-20 7 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

18-Sep-20 8 / 1 Anniversary of the 5th Karmapa Dezhin Shegpa

21-Sep-20 8 / 4 Anniversary of the 13th Karmapa Dudul Dorje

24-Sep-20 8 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

26-Sep-20 8 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

October 2020

01-Oct-20 8 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

10-Oct-20 8 / 23 Anniversary of the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje

12-Oct-20 8 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

14-Oct-20 8 / 27 Anniversary of Gendun Rinpoche

16-Oct-20 8 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

24-Oct-20 9 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

26-Oct-20 9 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

31-Oct-20 9 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

November 2020

04-Nov-20 9 / 19 Birthday of Lama Namsai 05-Nov-20 9 / 20 Anniversary of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje

07-Nov-20 9 / 22 Lha Bab Düchen: Buddha Sakyamuni descent from Tushita Heaven, at Sankhasa, near Patna. To repay his mother's kindness and to liberate her, Buddha spent 3 months teaching the Dharma in the Gods realms.

On this day, the effects of positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10 million times

10-Nov-20 9 / 25 Dakini day Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

15-Nov-20 9 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times New Moon

22-Nov-20 10 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

24-Nov-20 10 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

29-Nov-20 10 / 14 Lunar Eclipse Positive actions are multiplied by 10,000 times for Solar & Lunar Eclipses

30-Nov-20 10 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times Full Moon

December 2020

10-Dec-20 10 / 25 Dakini day Anniversary of Je Tsongkhapa

10 / 30 Shakyamuni Buddha Anniversary of the 12th Karmapa Changchub New Moon Dorje and Birthday of Kyabje Tenga Solar Eclipse Rinpoche

17-Dec-20 11 / 3 Anniversary of the 1st Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa

22-Dec-20 11 / 8 Medicine Buddha Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times

24-Dec-20 11 / 10 Guru Rinpoche Positive actions are multiplied by 100 times (Padmasambhava)

25-Dec-20 11 / 11 Christmas Day & Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche's birthday

26-Dec-20 11 / 12 Boxing Day

28-Dec-20 11 / 14 Anniversary of Kunga Gyaltsen

29-Dec-20 11 / 15 Amitabha Buddha Anniversary of the 10th Karmapa Choying Full Moon Dorje

31-Dec-20 11 / 17 New Year's Eve