Celebrating Buddha’s Life: Saga Dawa

Saga Dawa, the holiest month in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar, celebrates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and maha parinirvana, or passing away. The merit of any good deeds performed during this month are said to be multiplied many times over—by as many as a hundred million times. Buddhist rituals and depictions of the afterlife can be further explored on the sixth floor Death is Not the End exhibition.

In collaboration with New York Spirituality Week, join the Venerable Tulku Namgyal Dawa Rinpoche, a senior Tibetan Buddhist teacher and meditation master, and Tashi Chödrön, Rubin Museum Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador, to learn more about Saga Dawa. Tulku Namgyal Dawa Rinpoche will also provide a guided meditation and answer questions in a post-program Q&A.

Prior to the program, join a 2:15 PM gallery tour that explores imagery of the Buddha in the Rubin’s collection with Senior Curator Elena Pakhoutouva.

This program is hosted by Tashi Chödrön, Rubin Museum Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador.

Spirituality Week is a community produced, city-wide festival to nourish the spiritual needs of New Yorkers and its visitors. The festival contains hundreds of events hosted by everyone from emerging practitioners to major spiritual centers. Thousands will experience a deeper sense of belonging, spiritual connection, holistic practices, boundless possibilities, and breakthrough moments to support all aspects of life. Spirituality Week and its partners will offer an eclectic array of immersive experiences focused on spiritual exploration through workshops, individual sessions, luminary keynotes, celebratory performances, and intimate dinners on a free and paid basis.

About the Speakers:

Tulku Namgyal Rinpoche (b. 1974) is a son of Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche. He has been recognized as a reincarnation of Garwang Sangye Dorje who was one of the main teachers of Dudjom Rinpoche. His mother is H.R.H. Ashi Pema Codon Wangchuk, a royal family member of Bhutan.Tulku Namgyal Rinpoche was enthroned by Dudjom Rinpoche himself, who blessed him and predicted his future. He received his education at St. Paul Catholic school in Darjeeling, for his higher school he attended Baha School, in Maharashtra. Later he studied at Penor Rinpoche’s Namdroling Monastery and later in a Nyingma monastery in Kathmandu for further training in the Dharma. Tulku Namgyal Rinpoche currently teaches at Dudjom Tersar Yeshe Nyingpo Temple in Manhattan.

Major support for Himalayan Heritage is provided by The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism.

Public support of the Rubin Museum of Art is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Image credits

Left: Major Events of Buddha’s Life; Northeastern India; 12th century; “Andagu” stone with pigments; Rubin Museum of Art; C2005.4.2 (HAR 65388)

Right: Machik Labdron (1055-1153); Kham Province, Eastern Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art, gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.563 (HAR 1045)