Zamling Chisang, or Universal Prayer Day, is a festival that commemorates and celebrate Guru Rinpoche’s subjugation of the local deities and the founding of the Samye Monastery. In Lhasa, there is the spectacle of large amounts of sang being burned up on the hills of Chakpori, in Bumpari that is on the southern side of the Kyi-chu, and in Gephelri that is behind Drepung Monastery. Zamling Xhisang is a significant celebration of Precious Master Guru Rinpoche’s Enlightened efforts for people who value him. It is observed on the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month.
The most important dharma actions today would include:
- – Burning as much incense as possible.
- Purification practices, prayers, and meditation.
- Hanging prayers flag from trees and high mountains (prayers flags have mantras which are carried on the wind to benefit all sentient beings).
- -Prayers, Pujas, and your own offerings, such as tea offerings to the protectors.
- -Guru Rinpoche prayers and meditating
On this day, Tibetans go to the hills and mountains to burn sang, a ritual incense made of pine, cypress, herbs and other ingredients. They also hang prayer flags and make offerings to the Buddha and the local deities
Samye Monastery
Samye Monastery is a sacred and ancient site for Tibetan Buddhism. It has a unique design that represents the Buddhist cosmology. It is also where Guru Rinpoche initiated the first monks and transmitted Vajrayana teachings. The Samye Monastery was a temple that Guru Rinpoche presided over and that the first emperor of the Tibetan Empire founded. It is called Samye Monastery because the emperor was said to have been surprised by something. The main monastery building has numerous sculptures, and prayer wheels. Butter lights are lit, and butter sculptures are offered to the Buddha there. It is a three-story building, with narrow and slippery wooden stairs leading to the upper floors.
The word “samye” means surprise in the Tibetan language. “Sang” is the Tibetan word for incense powder. Instead of using incense sticks, Tibetans may burn incense powder. Watching the people burn sang and remembering the founding of this tradition of Buddhism in Tibet may interest you.
Zamling Chisang is also a time to witness the display of giant thangkas, scroll paintings of the Buddha, at Tashi-lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet. The thangkas are unfurled on a nine-story wall behind the monastery for three days. Zamling Chisang is a festival of spiritual cleansing, gratitude and joy. It celebrates the legacy of Guru Rinpoche and his contribution to Tibetan Buddhism and culture. May his blessings be with all sentient beings!