Dear Dharma Friends,

On behalf of the monks of the Gyuto Vajrayana Center and the Gyuto Monastery, I would like to underscore our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of the benefactors, sponsors, volunteers and friends who supported us in bringing His Holiness the Dalai Lama to San Francisco on April 27 - 29, 2007.   Without your help, we would not have received the precious and rare teachings on Dependent Origination that were given by His Holiness.

Please log onto www.dalailamabay2007.com  to view photos from the teachings.  Not surprisingly, we have had many requests regarding obtaining the teachings on DVD.  We are happy to announce that you will soon be able to download the entire video teachings at no cost from the event website.  Please check back within the next 1-2 weeks.

Once again, we deeply thank everyone who attended or supported the teachings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in San Francisco.

Holy Month of SAKA DAWA OR VESAK

Water Bowl Offering - Thursday May 17 - 31 at 6 pm - 7 pm

This year the Gyuto Vajrayana Center will celebrate Saka Dawa, the anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment and passing into Nirvana.  Saka Dawa is an auspicious month on which followers of the Buddha's teachings perform prayers and make offerings.  When these actions are performed on Saka Dawa, their merits are said to be multiplied on hundred and thousand times.

Based on the lunar calendar, Thursday, May 17 through Thursday, May 31 are the most auspicious days for the Buddhist practitioner.  Therefore, Gyuto Center is offering 15 Days of Water Bowl offerings.  During this holy month, we will be offering thousands of water bowls and lights to the Buddhas in the ten directions.  We will be doing this practice every day for fifteen days and all the members are invited to join the resident monks to make these offerings. 

SAKA DAWA FULL MOON - Buddha Shakyamuni's Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana Day

Eight Mahayana Precepts - Thursday May 31st at 5:30 am - 6 am

We begin celebrating at the Center by taking the 8 Mahayana precepts before sunrise (5:30 am).  The 8 precepts are: refraining from killing, stealing, sexual conduct, lying, and all intoxicants, eating no more than one meal a day, not sitting on high seats with pride or wearing jewelry, perfume and makeup.  Keeping the 8 Mahayana precepts for one day or one hour, and thus protecting our mind from disturbing negative thoughts becomes a contribution to peace for all sentient beings.  Everyone is welcome to take the 8 Mahayana precepts.

The King of Prayers -Thursday May 31st 7 pm- 8 pm

Venerable Khensur Rinpoche Ngawang Jorden and the venerable monks of the Gyuto monastery will be leading the King of Prayers for the benefit of all sentient beings.  All the members and friends are invited to join the practice.

Thank you.

 
Thupten Donyo