Celebrating Lhabab Düchen

In-person and online | On Tuesday, Nov. 15, please join us in celebrating Lhabab Düchen, the fourth of the four Düchens or “major anniversaries.” Our resident Canadian spiritual friend, Lama Rabten Tshering, will preside over the practice beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific, concluding around 8:30 pm. Liturgies will be in English and will be screen shared/supplied.

Registration and Making Offerings:

To join in-person: 

No registration required.

Address: Maitrivana, 4610 Earles Street, Vancouver, BC V5R 3R2

Doors will open at 6:45 pm.

Please note: in-person participants are asked to be vaccinated, to wear a mask inside Maitrivana, and to observe physical distancing.

To join online:

Please register and a Zoom meeting link and passcode will be emailed to you automatically.

Please note: the practice will involve a lamp/candle offering, so please prepare a candle (and lighter), and keep it close by.

Virtuous activities are especially beneficial on this day, when karma is said to be multiplied innumerable times. Lhabab Düchen is certainly a great day for dharma practice!

This program is free—though for the sake of gathering merit, virtue, and auspiciousness—offerings are encouraged. Fresh fruit, flowers, and goodies for the shrine are also most welcome.

“Lha” means god and “bab” means descent. The celebration of Lhabab Düchen commemorates Buddha Shakyamuni’s descent from the heavenly realm of Tushita back to the human realm. The Buddha went to Tushita heaven to teach his mother, Mayadevi, who passed away seven days after his birth and was reborn among the pure realms. To repay her kindness, to liberate her and benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching Abhidharma in Tushita Heaven. Then as the gods bowed to him, he descended to earth to continue teaching the dharma in the human realm.

A hallmark of this holiday is appreciation. We especially look with respect to the teachers who have shared the dharma with us, embodying and keeping the lineage of awakening alive in the world. We can rejoice in that activity, and reflect on the abundant good fortune of participating together to help wisdom and compassion flourish at a time that they are desperately needed. Wherever we are and whoever we are with, we can open our hearts with gratitude and engage in generosity and kindness.

We look very forward to coming together with you all, in heart and mind, to celebrate and pay homage on this most auspicious occasion.

Sarva Mangalam!