Duekhor Duchen Celebration for 2025: A Reflection on Buddhist Teachings and Community
- dingirfecho
- May 12
- 5 min read
On May 12, 2025, a diverse group of Buddhist practitioners gathered virtually to commemorate Duekhor Duchen, a significant holiday in the Buddhist calendar. Led by Lama Fede Andino, the celebration was both a solemn acknowledgment of the Kalachakra Tantra's teachings and a heartfelt tribute to a departed Dharma brother, Gustavo Porro, who passed away on this sacred day. The transcript of this gathering reveals a rich tapestry of teachings, meditations, and reflections that underscore the essence of Buddhist practice—compassion, community, and the dedication of merit for the liberation of all beings.
The Significance of Duekhor Duchen
Duekhor Duchen, distinct from the more widely recognized Vesak, commemorates the teaching of the Kalachakra Tantra, or the "Wheel of Time," by the Buddha Shakyamuni at the request of King Suchandra of Shambala. Lama Fede explained that this tantra emerged during a critical period when Buddhism faced existential threats in India and Central Asia due to invasions and competition from other spiritual traditions. The Kalachakra Tantra, described as the "last major tantra," was designed to ensure the survival and flourishing of the Dharma in challenging times. It incorporates unconventional elements for a Buddhist text, including astrology, astronomy, and vivid imagery, making it a unique and powerful practice.
Lama Fede highlighted the holiday's importance, noting that the merit generated from practices on Duekhor Duchen is multiplied millions of times. This makes it an ideal occasion for purification, empowerment, and dedication of merit to those in need, particularly those suffering in lower realms. The celebration also holds a futuristic significance, as it is prophesied that in 2422, the armies of Shambala will usher in a new era of Buddhist teachings. While Lama Fede cautioned against taking this prophecy literally, he emphasized its symbolic role as a reminder of the enduring relevance of the Kalachakra teachings.
A Personal and Communal Tribute
The 2025 Duekhor Duchen celebration was imbued with personal significance due to the passing of Gustavo Porro, a cherished member of the Dharma community. Lama Fede shared that Gustavo’s death on this holiest of days was a poignant and meaningful coincidence, reflecting the Buddhist belief in the auspiciousness of passing during sacred times. He encouraged attendees to dedicate their merit to Gustavo, praying for his swift rebirth in a pure land. This act of communal dedication underscored the Buddhist principle of interconnectedness, where individual practice benefits the collective.
The gathering began with a moment of reflection on Gustavo’s contributions, followed by a call to focus the day’s practices on benefiting all beings, especially those in need. Lama Fede’s teachings emphasized that Duekhor Duchen is not just a day for personal spiritual growth but a time to cultivate compassion and generosity on a universal scale.
The Kalachakra Tantra and Shambala
A central theme of the celebration was the Kalachakra Tantra and its association with Shambala, a mythical kingdom that is both a physical and spiritual realm. Lama Fede described Shambala as a state of mind, a collective consciousness where practitioners work together for liberation. Unlike other Buddhist practices that emphasize direct introspection, accessing Shambala requires a "slantwise" approach—looking at the "spaces between the spaces" of the mind. This concept, drawn from texts like the Lotus Sutra, suggests that Shambala exists in the liminal, interstitial moments of awareness.
Lama Fede addressed common misconceptions about Shambala, particularly the idea that it is a physical location in Central Asia, as popularized by figures like Nicholas Roerich. While certain places, such as remote mountains in Patagonia or the Swat Valley, may facilitate spiritual experiences due to their "thinner" boundaries between the material and spiritual worlds, Shambala is ultimately accessible from anywhere. This accessibility reinforces the inclusivity of Buddhist practice, where devotion and intention can lead to profound spiritual insights regardless of geography.
The Practice: Meditation, Mantra, and Merit
The celebration included a guided practice that embodied the spirit of Duekhor Duchen. Attendees began by taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, generating bodhicitta—the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings—and meditating to settle their minds. The group then engaged in a reading of The Dhāraṇī of the Tathāgata Jñānolka, a text chosen for its purifying power and astrological significance. This dhāraṇī, Lama Fede explained, is traditionally used to liberate beings trapped in lower realms, such as those who have committed grave acts or forsaken the Dharma. By reciting it three times daily for 21 days, practitioners can open the "hundred doors of the great Avici hell," facilitating liberation for suffering beings.
The group also chanted a mantra 27 times, visualizing the sun and moon as the eyes of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, whose silver and golden light enveloped and empowered all beings. This visualization, Lama Fede noted, serves as a shield of protection and a source of spiritual energy, aligning practitioners with the collective goal of reaching Shambala.
The practice concluded with a dedication of merit, a cornerstone of Buddhist practice. Lama Fede passionately reminded attendees that Buddhism is not about personal gain but about benefiting all beings. By giving away their merit—past, present, and future—practitioners align with the bodhisattva ideal, exemplified by figures like Samantabhadra. The dedication was particularly directed toward Gustavo Porro, with prayers for his swift rebirth, and extended to all beings striving for liberation.
Reflections on Community and Impermanence
Throughout the celebration, Lama Fede emphasized the importance of community, drawing on the historical example of the Buddha’s enlightenment. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha initially hesitated to teach, fearing that his realization was too profound for words. However, at the urging of Sakra, he chose to share the Dharma, beginning with the five ascetics who became the first members of the Sangha. This act marked the birth of the Buddhist community, a legacy that continues in gatherings like the Duekhor Duchen celebration.
Lama Fede also addressed the human tendency to cling to the self, urging practitioners to embrace impermanence. He humorously noted that even our remains will eventually be “pissed on by animals,” a stark reminder to let go of attachment to the ego. By giving away possessions, ideas, and merit, practitioners can cultivate the openness needed for true liberation.
Practical Guidance for Ongoing Practice
To sustain the spirit of Duekhor Duchen, Lama Fede offered practical advice for ongoing practice. He recommended performing The Dhāraṇī of the Tathāgata Jñānolka monthly, ideally on the new moon, to purify negative karma and empower spiritual growth. Setting up an altar with images of the four Buddhas, four bodhisattvas, and the sun and moon, along with offerings like sandalwood incense, can enhance the practice. For those seeking a simpler approach, chanting the mantra as a general blessing is equally effective, especially on holy days when its potency is amplified.
Lama Fede also announced upcoming teachings, including a session on Jambhala, the deity of generosity, and a mindfulness practice for Spanish-speaking practitioners. These opportunities reflect the ongoing commitment to nurturing a global Buddhist community.
Conclusion
The Duekhor Duchen celebration of May 12, 2025, was a profound blend of reverence, reflection, and practice. It honored the Kalachakra Tantra’s enduring teachings, paid tribute to a departed Dharma brother, Gustavo Porro, and reinforced the importance of community and compassion in Buddhist practice. Through meditation, mantra recitation, and the dedication of merit, participants connected with the timeless aspiration to liberate all beings and reach Shambala—a state of collective awakening. As Lama Fede reminded the group, Buddhism is not about personal gain but about giving away everything for the sake of others. In this spirit, the celebration served as a powerful reminder of the path to enlightenment, one that is walked together, with open hearts and selfless dedication.
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