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The Eight Mahayana Precepts are taken for twenty-four hours. It is especially good to take them on full and new moon days and on special Buddhist days. The essence of this practice is to be mindful of the Mahayana motivation; to take these precepts in order to lead all sentient beings to enlightenment.
Observing precepts for even such a short time has tremendous benefits: one accumulates a great amount of positive potential (merit) in a short time. One will receive pleasant rebirths and eventually will attain enlightenment. One is protected from harm and the place where one lives becomes peaceful and prosperous. One's mind is peaceful and calm; one gains control over one's bad habits; there will be fewer distractions when meditating. One gets along better with others. One will meet the Buddha's teachings in the future and can be born as a disciple of Maitreya Buddha.
The eight precepts are:
1. Avoid killing, directly or indirectly.
2. Avoid stealing and taking things without the permission of their owner.
3. Avoid sexual contact.
4. Avoid lying and deceiving others.
5. Avoid toxicants: alcohol, tobacco and drugs (except for medicinal purposes).
6. Avoid eating more than one meal that day. The meal is taken before noon, and once one has stopped eating, the meal is considered finished. At other times of the day one can take light drinks, but not undiluted whole milk or fruit juice with pulp. Avoid eating black foods: meat, eggs, onions, garlic and radishes.
7. Avoid sitting on a high, expensive bed or seat with pride. Also avoid sitting on animal skins.
8. Avoid wearing jewelry, perfume, and make-up. Avoid singing, dancing or playing music with attachment.
For a precept to be broken completely, four conditions must be present:
1. The motivation is a negative attitude such as attachment, anger, etc.
2. There is an object of the action, e.g. a being that is killed or an object that is stolen.
3. One does the action. If one tells someone else to kill, steal or lie, it is also a transgression.
4. The action is completed, e.g. the being dies before oneself or one thinks, "This is mine."
The first time one takes the precepts, it is done from a master. Thereafter, one can do the ceremony before a Buddha image by regarding it as the actual Buddha.
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Twice a month, based on the lunar calendar, the practice of Tsog Offering or Guru Puja is done. It is a commitment for those practicing tantra to restore and reaffirm their vows and pledges. However, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend this ritual of making extensive offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, accumulating the positive energy needed to progress along the spiritual path.
The Guru Puja text (called Lama Chopa text) used at Gyuto is available for download from this web site (see below). Lama is the Tibetan word for Guru, and Chopa is the Tibetan word for offering. Participants can bring food or flowers as offerings. The ritual and offering takes approximately one hour. If you have a bell and dorje, you are welcome to bring them and participate in the ritual.
Download the  Lama Chopa Text we use at the Gyuto Center. Other versions of the same text can be found in our Download section. |
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Also called: "The Ritual of Three Parts"
This puja is said to be very powerful to eliminate obstacles which occur in one’s life and spiritual practice. It is often performed by lamas for the sake of one who is sick, when the illness is thought to be caused by a class of spirits. This ritual follows the injunctions of the Buddha, who taught that one should not harm any living being, even those who do harm to oneself, and therefore, rather than using wrathful means to harm the interfering spirits, one offers them tormas, praises, and various offerings such as water, flowers, incense, lights, perfume, food, and music.
The Cha Sum Puja Text can be downloaded from our web site. |
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Every month according to the lunar calendar, the venerable monks at the Gyuto center perform a Mahakala Puja dedicated to the Center's members, friends and all sentient beings.
Mahakala is the in the wrathful aspect of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. The main role of Mahakala is to fulfill the four enlightened activities of pacifying interferences, increasing favorable circumstances, gaining control over situations and if all else fails destroying obstacles with wrathful force.
Everyone is welcome. All the participants can bring flowers, fruits and candles, etc. for the altar.
The text for the Praise of 6-Arm Mahakala can be downloaded from our website.
Mahakalas Discriptions: |
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Tara is the principal female manifestation of enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition. She is specifically associated with practices designed to lengthen one's lifespan and overcome life-threatening hindrances. The Four Mandala Offering Ritual of Tara serves as a community practice. As Tara dispels personal and global obstacles, we come together to ensure the ongoing stability of the Center, its community and ourselves.
This puja is led by the Venerable Gyuto monks. Everyone is welcome. Participants can bring flowers, fruites and candles for the altar.
The Four Mandala Offering to Cittamani Tara text of this ritual can be downloaded from our website. |
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The stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) is one of the great classics of Tibetan Buddhism which Lama Tsongkhapa founded came from the Kadam tradition, where Atisha and other great masters devised a systemized structures of study known as the...
We invite all members and friends to join the Medicine Buddha puja. Participants welcome to bring flowers, fruits and candles. More information about Medicine Buddha.