Maha Guru Bumtsok Prayer Ceremony

This year’s Mahaguru Million Assembly, as is the annual tradition at the Sera Jey Buddhist Cultural Institute in New York, is dedicated to the general aim of promoting the precious teachings of the Buddha, the source of all benefit and happiness, and specifically to the flourishing of all the non-sectarian great traditions that have developed in the land of Tibet, Snow Mountain. This includes the lives and activities of the supreme ornaments of the teachings, the leaders of world peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other revered teachers of all traditions. It is also dedicated to the swift and early resolution of the Tibetan cause, allowing the reunion of exiles and residents, the enjoyment of happiness, and the pacification of all harmful actions and intentions of humans and non-humans, as well as the cessation of diseases, famines, and conflicts in this world.

The Maha Guru Bhumtsok is an annual, multi-day Tibetan Buddhist prayer ceremony dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, primarily held to pray for the longevity of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the health of spiritual leaders, and the resolution of the Tibetan issue. It involves offering 100,000 feast offerings (tsok) to Padmasambhava.

Significance: It serves as a major community, religious, and political event for Tibetans in exile, often aimed at promoting world peace and strengthening Tibetan culture.

Purpose: The ceremony acts as a “Great Prayer and Feast Offering” within the Vajrayana tradition to secure the long life of the14th Dalai Lama and high-ranking lineage holders.