Chokhor Duchen - The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Chokhor Duchen - The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

There are four major Tibetan Buddhist holidays — Duchen or ‘Great Occasions’— marking the four events known as the ‘great deeds’ of the Buddha. 

The first is Chotrul Duchen, which falls on the first full moon of the year and celebrates the time when the Buddha is said to have displayed a different miracle each day to spur on his disciples. 

The second is Saga Dawa, which remembers the Buddha’s enlightenment, death and parinirvana. 

The third is Chokhor Duchen, which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths.

Chokhor Duchen

One of the four great holy days of the Tibetan calendar is today July 16, 2018. It is known as the Festival of Turning the Wheel of Dharma, Chokhor Duchen commemorates the anniversary upon which Shakyamuni Buddha first began teaching the Dharma. 

On today the effects of positive or negative actions are to be multiplied by 10,000,000 ten million times.

For seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. Legend has it, both heavenly beings, the Indra and Brahma offered a dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Shakyamuni Buddha to turn the precious Dharma. 

Accepting, Buddha Shakyamuni turned the Golden Wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching on the Four Noble Truths. 

In Tibet it is a day of pilgrimage when believers visit particularly holy spots to leave offerings of incense and prayer flags. The whole community, cleric and lay people alike, join in processions bearing statues of the Buddha and copies of the scriptures.

Chokhor or prayer wheels are common religious objects in Tibet, part of daily life for both Buddhists and followers of the native Bon religion. Hand held wheels are hollow wooden or metal cylinders attached to a handle which, when turned are believed to spread spiritual blessing. 

Mantras—such as Om Mani Padme Hum, believed to invoke the attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the Buddha of compassion.

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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