Next Wednesday August 3rd, we will celebrate Choekhor Duchen the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni’s first turning of the Dharma wheel. For seven weeks after his enlightenment Shakyamuni Buddha did not teach. Finally requested and encouraged by the gods Indra and Bhrama he went to the Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi to teach his previous companions of meditation. There he turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time, teaching them the four noble truths. On this commemoration day, due to the blessing of the lord Buddha the result of meritorious activities is enhanced 10 million times.
Thus it is an auspicious time to make abundant offerings to the three jewels, release life, recite prayers and teachings of the Buddha.