First Light: Lamp Offering to Welcome the New Year

Begin the first day of the solar New Year with us at KTC Jax with the offering of candles and lamps in honor of world peace. Our First Light ceremony will begin January 1st, 2025, at 10:30am.

Lamp offerings have special meaning: shining the light on our inner wisdom and reminding us of the clear path to living each day to create a life of peace. We invite you to light your lamps of peace — to join in our offering and prayers to help the light of wisdom reach all corners of the world.

Together we celebrate First Light with KTD Monastery, other KTC Centers, and Buddhist communities around the world. Let us together make aspirations, dedications, offerings, and prayers for World Peace and happiness to reach all corners of the world. We will chant the traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayers of the Chenrezik sadhana, followed by a lamp offering ceremony dedicated to those we may wish to remember who have passed away, those who are ill, and all beings who may suffer. Each participant will have the opportunity to light a candle for his or her own loved ones, make aspirations, or offer prayers.

First Light is also an auspicious occasion to renew our commitment to practice for the benefit of all sentient beings & to make offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as represented by our shrine. Making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is considered highly meritorious and an effective way of removing obstacles. Participants are encouraged to bring individual offerings: particularly flowers, fruit, sweets, baked treats, or monetary offerings. This too is considered especially meritorious. We ask that those bringing offerings please try to arrive around 9:30 am in order for offerings to be placed and the shrine properly prepared by volunteer shrinekeepers. If you cannot attend in person and would like to make a donation to KTC for First Light please donate here. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SFWZX7C97WRM8&ssrt=1734885135759

Following the ceremony we will hold a vegetarian potluck luncheon to which all are welcome. Please feel free to bring a vegetarian dish of your choice. You do not have to be Buddhist to attend. We welcome all interested in learning more about Buddhism.

If you would like to attend on zoom use the following link:

Zoom link to attend remotely:

https://zoom.us/j/287048452?pwd=WFc5WEJrNUlzSjlvNzFuZjkxNG1uZz09

Tuesday 12/24 Practice is cancelled
Saturday 12/28 Regular Meditation and Puja
TBA Karma Yoga volunteer and cleanup for First Light
Tuesday 12/31 Practice is cancelled
Wednesday 1/1 First Light Prayers for World Peace
January 25-27 Lama Lodro Lhamo Teaching and Practice weekend

Host or Publisher Karma Thegsum Chöling Jacksonville