Where will we move this year? As pointed out by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in his Losar message: It is totally up to us. We can use the moving-force of the tiger to move towards something meaningful, beneficial and positive. Since the tiger also represents the Mahamudra lineage of the Kagyü tradition, following the words of Rinpoche, we wish the fearless roar of the mahamudra tiger will be heard throughout the universe, and may the beauty and elegance of the tiger prevail in our lives and the world.
Water Tiger Year
In Tibetan Buddhist tradition there are many connections between spiritual practice and the calendar. As Rinpoche points out in this years’ Losar message, there are four important symbols: Tiger, Lion, Garuda and Dragon, each representing the power and nature of the four elements, wind, earth, fire and water respectively. That is also why we can find these on the wind-horse prayer flags, with the horse in the middle representing the sky. With the tiger representing the wind, Rinpoche shares that this year might naturally move things. And where will we move? “It’s up to our actions. Actions of each individual. We can move it to something positive, virtuous. Or, we can move it to something different. That is totally up to us.”
Every year Nalandabodhi and Nitartha International publish a Tibetan New Year Calendar we can consult as guidance for everything we do in our daily life and following in the footsteps of the Buddha. In this new year of the tiger, it can help us to use the moving-force of the tiger to move towards something positive and virtuous.
We hope you will enjoy this year of the tiger. Let us together move it towards something positive!
