Prayers & Practices
The nuns, monks and students of Chenrezig Institute take part in regular prayers and pujas for the benefit of all beings. They are conducted by members of the monastic and lay communities in careful accordance with Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Everyone welcome! See the calendar for more details.
DAILY
Morning Dharma Practice
Morning practice includes practices for strengthening the connection to our spiritual teachers, and reviewing the stages of the path (Guru Puja).
Evening Dharma Practice
Evening practice includes protecting from harm and clearing obstacles to practice (Protector Prayers), and strengthening the connection to our spiritual teachers (Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga).
Morning and evening practices have been removed from the public online calendar but people staying at the centre are still welcome to attend – just check the schedule with one of the nuns or the gompa manager.
We will also post on this page links which students can access at their discretion in order to be still able to engage in the practices. Coming soon…
WEEKLY
10 hr on-line Prayerathon
with Chenrezig Institute’s Sangha Community
The nuns and monks of the IMI (FPMT’s International Mahayana Institute) recommenced their global weekly Prayerathon in mid September 2022.
Hosted by Chenrezig Institute’s multi-media, with participation from sangha around the world, the Prayerathon is now offering special prayers to reduce the negative consequences of war in this world. The prayer advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche is contained in a text you can find here: It is found on page 14 and is called: Prayer in Accordance with the Times.
This follows on from the weekly 24 hour Prayerathon, which ran from August 2020 to July 2022 to assist the control and decline of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Join from home through the link below and recite along with the prayer.
MONTHLY
Tara Puja
Tara Puja is an energising practice that provides protection from fears and dangers and brings success to projects, as well as physical and emotional wellbeing.
Medicine Buddha Puja
Medicine Buddha Puja is a powerful healing practice for physical and mental ailments and benefits those who are ill or have recently passed.
Dzambhala Puja
Dzambhala Puja is considered to manifest spiritual and material abundance.
Guru Puja
Fire Pujas
Fire Pujas are also celebrated each month on an auspicious day. They are a precious opportunity for the community to come together to reflect on any harmful actions of body, speech and mind, and to putify them.
Protector Prayers
Yamantaka Self Initiation and Vajrayogini Self-Initiation Practices
Yamantaka self-initiation and Vajrayogini self-initiation practices are done by those who have received empowerments and completed the approach retreat. By dedicating to these practices, full enlightenment is considered attainable within a lifetime, in order to benefit all sentient beings.
ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS
Great holy days of the Buddhist calendar
Shakyamuni Buddha Puja
Celebrated on all the four great holy days, Shakyamuni Buddha Puja is considered to remove obstacles and create conducive conditions for spiritual practice.
The Fifteen Days of Miracles
On the 15 days from Tibetan New Year/Losar to the final Day of Miracles, Chotrul Duchen, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha displayed miraculous powers in order to subdue six tirthikas (non-Buddhist teachers) who lacked faith in him, as well as to inspire more faith in his followers.
Chotrul Duchen
Meaning “Great Day of Miraculous Manifestations”, Chotrul Duchen is one of the four great holy days observed by Tibetan Buddhists, always occurring on the full moon, fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the Tibetan calendar. During this time, it is believed that the effects of both positive and negative actions are multiplied ten million times.
Saka Dawa
Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana.
Chokhor Duchen
Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching.
Lhabab Duchen
Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for several months to the gods, including his mother Mahamaya.
Prayer and puja dedications
Chenrezig gives you the opportunity to dedicate prayers or pujas for yourself, friends, or relatives. You may request prayers for those who are ill, those who have died, and those who need to overcome difficulties and obstacles. You may also dedicate prayers to create auspicious circumstances.
Prayers are completed daily by our community, while pujas are held on specific days in the Tibetan lunar calendar. If you sponsor a puja, it will be carried out on the next scheduled date according to the tradition.
You may like to send us a picture of your friend or relative, together with the reason why practices are being requested. This would be read out during the practice.
When someone passes away, we say prayers for 49 days following the death and make feast (tsog) offerings on their behalf.
By making a donation, a tangible connection is established between the person who is in need of prayers and those who are reciting the prayers on their behalf. Your donations contribute to the cost of the offerings made at each ceremony, including flowers, lights, saffron, tea, incense and food. There is no set amount for donations. Offer as much as you are inspired to.