Friday, February 28th

A vibrant Tibetan New Year ceremony took place this past Friday evening at the Yeshe Long Buddhist Center in Clinton. Led by H.E. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, the inclusive Losar Celebration brought together a diverse community of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners to mark the beginning of the new year.

Reflecting on my own spiritual journey, I remembered dabbling in Zen Buddhist meditation during high school. It had been more than 20 years since I last participated in a formal meditation practice. When a friend invited me to the Losar Celebration, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to reengage with spirituality and learn more about Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

“We will dedicate our good intentions from the previous year and welcome the new year together with our friends, family, and dharma practitioners around the world,” Rinpoche shared.

Friday’s celebration honored the Year of the Wood Snake, 2152. Symbolizing renewal, the Wood Snake represents a time to cleanse, cherish family, make offerings to the spirit, reflect, and welcome new beginnings. Rinpoche’s ceremony was designed to include both seasoned practitioners and newcomers like me. The evening featured Losar blessings, prayers, the special Losar Dresil (sweet rice), Tibetan Lingdro Sacred Dance, and a touching presentation of Rinpoche’s humanitarian efforts in Dzachuka, Tibet.

The ceremony concluded with a Long-Life blessing and the Lingdro dance. While the dance may appear simple, mastering its hand and foot coordination is surprisingly challenging.

The evening’s success was also supported by the local Waldorf School. As part of their volunteer commitment, one of the school’s classes prepared traditional cookies for the post-ceremony refreshments. After the dance, everyone gathered in the kitchen area to enjoy traditional Tibetan milk tea, fruit, and Tibetan-style fry bread.

My partner and I reconnected with familiar faces from South Whidbey and made a few new friends as well. Some attendees live on the temple grounds, serving as caretakers in exchange for housing. It’s a beautiful example of giving back to the community through peaceful, honest work.

As Dza Kilung Rinpoche’s Western dharma seat, the temple regularly offers teachings and meditations open to the public. Every Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., sessions are available both in person and via Zoom. Throughout the year, Rinpoche leads Seven Meditations, focusing on relaxing the mind in harmony with the seasons. For those seeking deeper immersion, Yeshe Long serves as a personal retreat site for monks. I encourage anyone curious about the temple’s mission to explore its work, both locally and globally.

Leaving the ceremony, I felt a profound sense of loving commonwealth. Embracing spirituality helps keep us grounded and provides the space to breathe. Happy New Year, or as the Tibetans say, Losar Tashi Delek! You can read more about about the meditation practice in Rinpoche’s book, The Relaxed Mind: a Seven-Step Method for Deepening Meditation Practice.

“May this new year bring positive experiences to you and all people around the world!”