Losar 2012 Message »
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, begins on February 22. Losar is a joyous time for everyone in Tibet and Tibetans living around the world. As is the tradition throughout the world, the first lunar month is welcomed with elaborate celebrations incorporating both spiritual and celebratory activities ( e.g. Buddhist prayers, wearing new clothes and indulging in numerous feasts).
It was said that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him one New Year’s day. Twelve animals came and Buddha named a year after each one of these animals in rotation. He announced that the people born in a particular year would have personality traits like the animal relating to that year. The lunar year commencing in February 2012 is the year of dragon. People born in 2012 are believed to be brave, innovative and passionate.
Over the past year, many around the world have faced and suffered from catastrophes, natural and man-made, including floods, earthquakes, droughts and civil unrests. We pray that all beings will overcome their obstacles and difficulties and that they may continue on their spiritual paths to reach Buddhahood for the benefit for others.
We also pray for meaningful outcomes and fruitful resolutions on the matters that have plagued His Holiness Karmapa during the past year.
It had been a busy year in 2011 for the committee as our centre was fortunate enough to have 2 visits from our precious teacher Gyaltsey Rinpoche and hosted the Inaugural Australian Monlam during that period with many monks from overseas joining us in the prayers. Now that Rinpoche has returned to India, the planning work for the new year has just begun. The new committee members who were appointed recently show much enthusiasm in planning for activities for the new year.
In welcoming the Water -Dragon New Year , we remind ourselves of how grateful we are to His Holiness Karmapa and our precious teacher Gyaltsey Rinpoche for their precious guidance and their tireless effort in helping us on the path to permanent peace and happiness. We thank them deeply for their kindness and wish them both good health and long lives.
Karma Samten Choeling wishes all members, friends, their families and all beings a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous (dharma filled) Tibetan new year.
The Centre will open for light offerings for Losar on Sunday 19 February 2012 after that morning’s 10am practice. We hope you can join us then and also during our regular practices through the year.
The Committee
Karma Samten Choeling
洛薩，藏歷新年是將從二月二十二日開始。藏歷新年是居住在全世界的藏族人民最隆重、熱烈的傳統佳節。按照傳統民俗，藏歷的第一個月人們會作佛教的祈禱，穿上新衣服，吃團圓飯等節日活動，洋溢著濃厚的宗教氣氛，是一個娛神和娛人、慶祝和祈禱兼具的民族節日。
據說佛陀讓十二種動物在新年的元旦來見他，這種歷法按照十二動物生肖紀年排列次序，每12年為一周期。他開示說出生在某個生肖紀年的人的個性與這個生肖紀年的動物有相似。從2012年2月開始的是藏歷龍年， 在今年出生的人會勇敢， 樂於接受新事物和充滿激情。
在過去的一年裏， 我們的世界面臨了很多自然與人為的災難。包括水災，旱災和地震以及以下民間的騷動。我們祈願眾生都能克服各種困難和障礙，能繼續堅持他們精神的修持，為利益其他眾生而圓滿佛道。
我們祈願大寶法王噶瑪巴在過去一年裏的種種違緣，最終會能圓滿的解決而有豐碩的成果。
對於Karma Samten Choeling的委員會來說， 2011年是忙碌的一年。在尊敬的德貢嘉謝仁波切的指導下，我們有幸舉辦了第一屆的澳洲噶舉祈願佛會，邀請到了來自海外的許多喇嘛一起祈禱誦經。現在德貢嘉謝仁波切回到了印度，為新的一年作計劃。他指定的新的一屆委員會，呈現出更高的熱情來計劃新的一年的活動。
在即將到來的藏歷水龍年， 我們要感恩大寶法王噶瑪巴和尊敬的上師德貢嘉謝仁波切，是他們孜孜不倦地給予我們珍貴的教導，幫助我們走上能得到永久平和與快樂的修行之路。我們深深地感恩他們的慈悲並祝願他們身體安康，永久駐世。
Karma Samten Choeling祝福所有的會員們， 朋友們以及他們的家人， 無量無邊的眾生擁有一個快樂，健康，法喜充滿的藏歷新年。
為慶祝藏歷新年的到來，我們中心將於2012年2月19日星期天供燈，還有早上十點的共修。Karma Samten Choeling誠邀各位積極參與我們的活動以及常年的共修。
Karma Samten Choeling
委員會
