Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, gives this message on the occasion of Losar, Tibetan New Year:

Any new harvest has an auspicious ability that enables us to bear true joy for ourselves. Why is this the case, when we know that Losar is just another day in this world?

Quite simply, because we make it so! We make this day an auspicious one, not by fortune or chance, but by sheer will.

Every day is as insignificant as a wish-fulfilling jewel. Yes, today is just like another piece of rock. However, the wilful recognition of what that day might hold, its true potential, transforms ordinary wisdom into an extraordinary one.

May all of you harvest the potential of this special day, and in all days to come.

~

Losar is the Tibetan New Year, the most important festival in Tibet. It is an occasion when Tibetan families reunite and expect a better coming year. Specially made offerings are offered to family shrine deities; doors are painted with religious symbols; other painstaking jobs are done to prepare for the event.

The first two weeks, in particular, commemorate the time when the Buddha uncharacteristically displayed his power by doing a number of miracles to win over hundreds (if not thousands) of disciples from a teacher who was a non-believer of what the Buddha taught and challenged him to a dual of mystical powers. At the end of the two week period, the Buddha had clearly won the match and as a result all present converted to the practices taught by the Buddha.

The new year spawns a time of increase in virtuous activity amongst Buddhist practitioners. Any actions done during that period of time, for better or worse, are multiplied in their power by virtue of being in alignment or out of alignment with the great deeds the Buddha himself did during this same astrological period over 2,500 years ago. It is a very powerful time to practice and increase one’s commitment to both practice and study as the power of that magical event can be harnessed to assist in our personal evolution towards enlightenment.

To make these fifteen days of miracles the most beneficial:

This is the year of obstacles for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so please dedicate strongly for His Holiness to have a healthy, stable life and for the quick success of all His Holiness’ holy wishes.