Losar 2026:
Losar is the Tibetan New Year and the first two weeks, in particular, commemorate the time when the Buddha uncharacteristically displayed his power by doing a number of miracles to win over hundreds (if not thousands) of disciples from a teacher who was a non-believer of what the Buddha taught and challenged him to a dual of mystical powers. At the end of the two week period, the Buddha had clearly won the match and as a result all present converted to the practices taught by the Buddha.
The new year spawns a time of increase in virtuous activity amongst Buddhist practitioners. Any actions done during that period of time, for better or worse, are multiplied in their power by virtue of being in alignment or out of alignment with the great deeds the Buddha himself did during this same astrological period over 2,500 years ago. It is a very powerful time to practice and increase one’s commitment to both practice and study as the power of that magical event can be harnessed to assist in our personal evolution towards enlightenment
Losar, the Anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s Passing Away
For FPMT, Losar is a special time as it commemorates the anniversary of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe’s parinirvana at dawn of Losar in 1984
Since one of the very best ways to make offerings to the guru is to offer extensive Lama Chopa with tsog, Lama Zopa Rinpoche requests FPMT centers to do this practice on Losar in honor of the anniversary of Lama Yeshe’s passing away. Doing so brings about the greatest purification of negative karma and collects the most incredible merit.
Losar Schedule: Wednesday 18th February
08:00 am - Extensive water bowl offerings at the Lama Yeshe Stupa,
followed by offering prayers at 10:00 am
12:00 pm - Lunch in the Big Love Cafe
(Please book in advance through Big Love Café)
01:00 pm - 03:30 pm Painting tsa tsas at the Art Studio
06:00 pm - Guru Puja with Tsog in the Tara Room
Please note: From Losar onwards, all fifteen days of Miracles are merit-multiplying days, during which the merit of virtuous actions is multiplied by 100 million, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
Generate extensive merit by making offerings to this extensive Guru Puja Tsog, for the benefit of all.
We invite you to make a light offering with your personal dedication to create extensive merit. You may offer light for 3, 7, or 49 days in the Chenrezig Gompa, or by using the button below.
Please refer below to suggested practice for this most auspicious day: Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts
“It is so important also to understand that if one collects non-virtue on merit multiplying days, then that will also increase by that many number of times. One has to be careful to not increase non-virtuous actions during the merit multiplying days.”
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche