Today is Saga Dawa, the anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, awakening and passing away (parinirvana). It is a day when Buddhists around the world practice mantras, make prayers and ritual offerings and perform acts of generosity. Tibetan Buddhists believe that today the effects of actions are multiplied many millions of times over, therefore it is … Continue reading Saga Dawa →

This is also why Tibetan Buddhists believe that our loved ones can offer great help. By offering prayers, mantras and other practices at this time, it helps to comfort and guide the deceased through their passing, through the post-death state, into a state of greater peace and clarity. The Vajrasattva mantra can be recited every day for forty-nine days after the person has died.