In Tibetan Buddhist tradition there are many connections between spiritual practice and the calendar. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche pointed out that the beginning of this Wood Dragon year is an opportunity to start fresh. To leave behind all the things that happened before, all the way up to yesterday. It is a moment, Rinpoche shared, to see that we have never been stuck: 

“Our mind has always been free. It has never been bound or stuck in any space nor any habit of negativities. We may have experienced some habits, but we are never stuck there. Therefore, we can free ourselves, all the time, anytime.”

So, therefore, Rinpoche expressed his aspiration and prayers to clear away any old negative habits that might remain and bring energy into new positive habits and, ultimately, realize our mind’s true nature through perfecting our meditation. 

Want to learn more about the meaning of the various aspects of a year, a month and days? 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.