Saga Dawa Duchen & the Mantra Marathon

HELD AT KAMALASHILA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
30-31 May 2026

Commencing on the weekend of 30 to 31 May, the Mantra Marathon was held in the Main Gompa, Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Tilba. For those living too far from the Centre and unable to attend physically, there was an opportunity to attend via Zoom. Everyone was encouraged to count their mantra recitations so that they could be collected at the end of the twenty-four hours. 

Saga Dawa Duchen is the most holy day, in the most holy of months, Saga Dawa, in the Tibetan Buddhist Calendar. It is a day that commemorates Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment and passing into Mahaparinirvana. At the age of thirty-five Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya, India. At the age of eighty Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrated passing into Mahaparinirvana in the town of Kushinagar India, after saying “It is the nature of all things that take form to dissolve again. Strive with your whole being to attain perfection.” (Sakya Calendar)

Traditionally, the lay community conducts this mantra (marathon) recitation for a twenty-four-hour period. Due to this auspicious time, all our meritorious efforts are multiplied a million times over. It is a very virtuous time to enrich our heart and mind by cleansing our attachment and grasping mind. It is a time not to gain but to give to oneself to all sentient beings.

Meaning of mantras: Mantras in Vajrayana Buddhism are sacred sound vibrations representing the enlightened body, speech, and mind of a Buddha, acting as tools to guard the mind from suffering and negative karma. They are used for meditation, transformation, and connecting to the essence of specific deities to gain wisdom and compassion. The mantra recitations were carried out non-stop with a rotating group. The mantras recited were those such as Buddha Shakyamuni mantra, Healing mantra, Compassion mantra, Green Tara mantra and Vajrasattva mantra. 

On the Sunday morning Khenpo la led the group in a precepts ceremony. The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a twenty-four hour set of vows taken to purify negative karma, accumulate merit, and cultivate the Mahayana motivation to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. These vows, which closely resemble monastic training for one day only, are often taken on full/new moons or holy days, including strict restrictions on eating times, sensory pleasures and sexual behaviour. 

By the Sunday afternoon we completed our inaugural mantra marathon recitations at Kamalashila. Around fifty sangha attended in person and online, many staying the full twenty-four-hours. How special. With Khenpo la, Venerable Tsultim and Ani la leading the way, the sangha recited thousands of mantras dedicating for the benefit of others. During the twenty-four hours, many offerings were made to the shrine such as beautiful flowers, many home-grown, and fruits. We offered around five hundred candles. We had so many generous sponsors for the meals and teas, and offerings to the shrine. Plus, many sponsors offering the lamps. 
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Thank you to everyone, our wonderful sponsors, cooks and volunteers. Thank you to Khenpo la for extending this opportunity to participate in this amazing event on the most holy of days.