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The annual traditional sacred ceremonies to celebrate the kindness of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni in accordance with the Three Yanas were held from May 16 to 18 at Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat to mark the Saga Dawa according to the Kalachakra calendar. Saga Dawa celebrates three holy events in the life of Lord Buddha, the true spiritual friend of all sentient beings and unequalled Lion of the Shakyas—his birth in this world as Prince Siddhartha, his enlightenment, and his parinirvana—which were sacred manifestations that came about through the coincidence of the power of sentient beings’ merit and his own aspirations. The three-day celebration and commemoration of Lord Buddha’s life and activities began with the Tulkus, Khenpos, Lamas, monks and nuns of Palpung Sherabling conducting rituals and prayers according to the specific traditions of each of the Three Yanas, along with abundant offerings and praises to please the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. They also presented: Dharma discourses from the point of view of the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions about the ground, path and fruition as well as view, meditation and action; debates on Buddhist scriptures and reasoning; as well as discussions and presentations of common sciences such as grammar, logic, medicine and astrology. On the third day, Guru Vajradhara the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa presided over the marvellous celebrations and gave a profound and extensive teaching on the importance of remembering the kindness of Lord Buddha and on the necessity of receiving transmissions, studying and contemplating the teachings of all eighteen practice and academic lineages that constitute the entirety of Tibetan Buddhism.
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