On Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 10:00am to 11:00am, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche conducted a ceremony for the occasion of Dzam Ling Chi Sang, known also as Universal Prayer day. The ceremony is for purification on the full moon day of the 5th Tibetan month, and involves special herbs and consecrated fire (more background is below). The smoke from this year’s fire was especially beautiful, and the feeling of blessing was palpable. Here are photos from the day taken by Miles McBreen/Karma Palden.
Background: Universal Prayer Day, or Dzam Ling Chi Sang, is celebrated on the full moon of the 15th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, which is July 10, 2025 of the Gregorian calendar. It is a time for spiritual cleansing. Tibetans hang prayer flags and burn juniper twigs. Rinpoche will lead us in a smoke puja in the backyard of the Manjushri Dharma Center, and the ceremony will go for one hour from (approximately) 10:00AM to 11:00AM. Participants are invited to wear all white clothing to symbolize purification. After the Dzam Ling Chi Sang ceremony, all are invited to stay for tea.
“Here is a brief history of Dzam Ling Chi Sang . During the time of Trisong Detsen , the first emperor of Tibet , there were many evil mountain deities in Tubo Kingdom. Guru Rinpoche was invited to Tibet to subdue these evil deities and turned them into Dharma protectors instead. Also after Samye Monastery was built, Guru Rinpoche held a ceremony to give thanks to all the deities, nagas, yakshas, devas and so on. During the day, humans built Samye Monastery but at night, all the devas and spirits continue to construct the temple. That is why at the completion of Samye Monastery, Guru Rinpoche held a smoke offering ceremony to commemorate this and to honor the deities. This is the beginning of Dzam Ling Chi Sang since the time of Guru Rinpoche till the present day. Also Sang is Tibetan for incense powder which is also used to purify our body, speech and mind.”
From Rinpoche’s 2023 Facebook post
