Welcoming the year of the Male Earth Dog, I wish you all Losar Tashi Delek.
As Buddhists, all of us seek refuge in the Triple Gem, striving through devotion and practice to transcend our sufferings and attachments to samsara. So today as we celebrate Losar together, let us count our blessings.
Let us thank Lord Buddha Shakyamuni and all of his true, noble disciples who have compassionately and wisely embodied and taught the supreme advantages and unfailing merits of the Buddha Dharma to millions of sentient beings over the last 2,500 years.
Let us thank His Holiness Dalai Lama, who has led the Tibetan nation and Tibetan Buddhists in an exemplary manner for over 8 decades.
Let us thank the Sakya lineage, which has maintained a 950-year line of Dharma kings, who have embodied and protected the noble aspirations of Samantabhadra. Where would we be today without their pure motivations and supreme commitments to bodhicitta?
Let us thank H.H. Sakya Dagchen Dorje Chang, who for over 80 years blessed and benefited countless sentient beings with his meditations, retreats, prayers, mantras, teachings, empowerments, and innumerable meritorious activities and qualities as Vajradhara.
Let us thank the three grandsons of His Holiness Sakya Dorje Chang and Her Eminence Dagmo Kusho. His Eminence Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche, His Eminence Abhaya Vajra Rinpoche, and His Eminence Asanga Vajra Rinpoche are devoting their lives to upholding the Sakya Dharma heritage and continuing in His Holiness Sakya Dagchen Dorje Chang’s footsteps as excellent custodians, guardians, and teachers of the Buddha Dharma.
Let us thank Her Eminence Dagmo Kusho for tirelessly and inspirationally supporting His Holiness Sakya Dorje Chang in his efforts to plant and nurture the Sakya lineage in North America for 68 years. Let us thank the mothers and fathers of our Sakya Dhungseys and the entire Sakya family who have demonstrated their unique love, dedication, and selflessness for parenting their offspring.
Let us thank our three resident lamas, Khenpo Jampa, Lama Migmar, and Lama Kelsang, who loyally support Sakya Monastery as teachers, artists, and ritual masters.
And finally, let us thank ourselves for supporting in all of our various and sundry capacities the establishment and development of Sakya Monastery, so that this celebration today is possible and the Dharma will flourish.
The brilliant and inspirational qualities of mind embodied in all of our lamas with the support of our lay community are the treasure house that this New Year will offer for the benefit of all sentient beings. How fortunate we are here today to experience the jewels of the Dharma. And may all of us have the good fortune to have long and happy lives so that we can share the gift of the Dharma beyond this New Year for the eternal benefit of all sentient beings.