December 31 was another dark and stormy night—this time with ice and freezing rain! But 29 people still braved the elements for the KPC New Year’s Eve Celebration.

The celebration started 11 years ago, as the sangha looked for a more meaningful way than the usual champagne-and-noisemaker party to celebrate the New Year.   Instead of the traditional “Happy New Year!” at midnight, we decided to make our first speech of the New Year virtuous, by reciting the Refuge and Bodhisattva vows.

At 10 p.m. each New Year’s Eve, we gather for Shower of Blessings practice, with tsog, the food offering ceremony.

This year Gonpo served as the umdze, or chant leader.

And Ani Hesper served as the Chopon, making the offerings on behalf of all present.

The practice ended in time for 15 minutes of quiet contemplation before midnight.  People used the time to set their intention for the New Year.

Then at midnight, we all recited the Refuge and Bodhisattva  vows, renewing our commitment to accomplishing the path for the benefit of all beings.  Most people present were renewing vows they had already taken with a qualified Lama.  For a few newcomers, the vows were spoken with the intention of doing the same thing as soon as possible.

Then it was time to make offerings of light at the altars to help anchor our intentions.  KT helped people light their candles.

Then people placed their candles on the altar that best signified their intention.

Gail placed hers at the Tara altar. Tara embodies the feminine mind of enlightenment, and this altar depicts her 21 aspects.

Linda placed hers at the Kapala altar.  Inside this shrine is one of the most revered relics of the Palyul Lineage, a fragment of the skull of Genyenma Ahkon Lhamo, who helped found the Palyul Monastery in the 17^th century.  Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo is recognized as her reincarnation.

Then cards were distributed to the sangha with a picture of the relic, a gift from Jetsunma.  The circle on the card shows where the syllable “Ah” can be seen.  It is a naturally occurring phenomenon!  When Genyenma Ahkon Lhamo died, at her cremation, the skullcap shot out of the funerary stupa and flew out of sight in the sky.  (In the case of highly accomplished practitioners, events like this  are often reported at such times.)  The skullcap, called kapala in Sanscrit, was subsequently found at the foot of the throne of her brother, Kunzang Sherab, first throne holder of the Palyul Lineage.  You can find the full story of its coming to be enshrined at KPC here.

Some people had never actually seen the self-generated “Ah.”

At the end of the practice, everyone gathered to share the tsog offerings and each other’s company.

We may have stayed up late, but we all felt the pleasure of spiritual renewal as the New Year began.

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