'LETTER FROM RABJAM RINPOCHE ABOUT CHÖKOR DÜCHEN: Dear Dharma brothers and sisters, I hope you are all keeping well. Today (JULY 24) is, according to the lunar, Tibetan Calendar the anniversary of the day Buddha Shakyamuni turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time; for us Buddhists, it’s a very auspicious day. Buddha achieved enlightenment, but for a while thereafter he was hesitant to teach. He said: Profound and peaceful, free from complexity, uncompounded, luminosity— I have found a nectar-like Dharma. Yet if I were to teach it, no one would understand, So I shall remain silent here in the forest. (Lalitavistara Sūtra, XXV, 1) Here, Buddha was already hinting at the ultimate truth. However, after 49 days, the Gods, Indra, and Brahma requested Buddha to teach, to turn the wheel of Dharma. He accepted and traveled to Varanasi where he taught the Four Nobel Truths to five former companions who became his first five disciples. Today (July 24) is a very special, important day, and we should try to make some offerings; arrange flowers, incense, lamps, or whatever. You may offer anything you consider beautiful. We may already make such offerings on a daily basis, but today we should make a special effort to present really beautiful and delightful offerings. Having arranged our offerings, we should practice the Shakyamuni Buddha Sadhana (composed by Mipham Rinpoche)* meditate on the Buddha, and recite his mantra: Tadyatha Om Muni Muni Maha Munaye Soha. Try to remember Buddha’s kindness in turning the wheel of Dharma. Were it not for this specific kindness we would be living in total spiritual darkness. It is important to recall this kindness again and again, and to not take the Buddhist path for granted, but recognize its rarity, the kindness of its teacher, and strive to repay that kindness with practice. Thank you very much for your time and efforts. Stay safe and use the lockdown situation to practice the teachings you have received and to read Dharma books. I hope we will meet again very soon, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Gyurme Chokyi Sengye LINK TO THE Buddha SADHANA: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/mipham/treasury-blessings-practice-buddha-shakyamuni Image of the Buddha is from the Shechen Fresco Restoration Project " https://www.facebook.com/294782830570/posts/10164489272950571/