Year of the Metal Rat (2147) 2020 Important Dates Message from Venerable Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche: Firstly, Venerable Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche and Venerable Lama 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 (Padmasambhava) 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 dharma 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 Sakya 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 lineage 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 Karmapa 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 Tulku 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 Dzogchen 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 Dalai Lama'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 Sarnath). 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.