Winter Solstice Blessing of the Waters 2023
Thursday, December 21st, 2023
4:30pm to 5:30pm Pacific Standard Time
Lover’s Point Beach
17th St and Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA

Thursday, December 21st, 2023 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.   This year we will once again 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.  Attendees will be provided with candles to light as we celebrate the light of love and wisdom, which is not bound by time or seasons.  Attendees are encouraged to bring flower petals to scatter as we send our good wishes to the ocean.

Can’t make this event, but wish to participate? 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.  Instructions on Blessing the Waters

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 to Prayer for Peace:  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.