Water Blessing 2017

Monday, December 21st, 2020 is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.   For many years now, at both summer and winter solstices, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche offers a Blessing of the Waters, by reciting two prayers that he composed, Propitiating the Devas of the Four Elements and the Prayer for World Peace.   Typically we gather in community and send our good energy to the ocean, to all the waters of the world, and to all of nature and humanity.

This year, once again due to concerns about Covid-19, we will not gather together to perform this ceremony, but each individual is encouraged to visit nature while remaining socially distant, and to “collectively while apart” send good energy out to the world.   Practitioners may download these prayers to recite at the beach, by a river, or wherever you choose outside in nature.  Bring some flowers to offer and send your good energy and wishes for healing to the waters of the world, all the elements of nature, and all sentient beings.  Additionally, here is an “instruction on how to practice” the Blessing of the Waters, composed by Rinpoche and Pema/Aaron with more information on how to  conduct a “do-it-yourself” Blessing of the Waters 2020.  Instructions on Blessing the Waters

Finally, we will come together at 6:30pm online via Zoom, during our regular Monday night prayer practice, and recite these prayers and wishes together.    Below is the Zoom link, and Rinpoche’s Prayer for Peace.

Link to Join Prayer Practice via Zoom:  Monday Night Prayer Practice

Password required:  WorldPeace

Or join by phone (your normal phone charges may apply):
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 646 876 9923 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 970 1801 1835
International numbers available: https://middlebury.zoom.us/u/abeH9hRvO3
Phone Password: 470102

Prayer for Peace

Through roots of goodness of us all on this vast earth,

May all living creatures become full of
love and compassion,

So that all enjoy peace on earth!

Stop bad intentions, thoughts and deeds
of all those who terrorize others,

That all living beings on this earth
come together like one family!

May all be well, have long life and health
with bliss of mind, free of illusion.

May all mothers have oceans of bliss
of body, for now, and ultimately of mind.

May this lamp of wisdom love, oneness,
highest remedy to clear darkness,

Enter the hearts of all living beings,
so their perfect path be illumined!

Footnote:  In the name of all religions on earth, as I see and hear of increasingly many unwarranted harmful actions being enacted, thinking, with a joyful, universal aspiration, how wonderful it would be if all such activities ceased entirely.  Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, on 2-4-2015, on Wednesday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s auspicious day, wrote this dedication prayer to be recited at the conclusion of other prayers, meditation, or practices.