One of the most significant practices passed on to us by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche is lhasang – the ceremony of burning juniper to purify space and invoke the dralas, the enlightened energies of the natural world.
Many of us in Shambhala are familiar with the drala principle. We understand that by connecting with the dralas we can help restore the health and vitality of the natural world. The purifying smoke of the lhasang carries our aspirations upwards and, at the same time, provides for the blessings of the dralas to flow downwards. Meeting the dralas in this way also creates an opportunity to deepen our personal connection to the earth and all living things.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche continually encouraged us to connect with the dralas saying “They [the dralas] are longing to meet you.” Now, with the earth in extreme peril, what better time to practice a collective, global calling on the dralas.
With this view, we are envisioning a collective, global lhasang ceremony with Shambhala Centers, formal and informal Groups, and individuals performing lhasang between 4:30 -6:30 pm in their respective time zones. 5:24 P.M. is the actual vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. This will create a continuous smoke offering that circles the earth for 24 hours.
Which lhasang to do? Use the text that feels right for your local situation. And be sure the text you choose is open to all who attend.
These three are all good possibilities…
If you want to make offerings in addition to juniper, that’s fine.
If you simply have a stick of incense, that is fine.
If you can’t have any smoke, because you are doing it indoors, imagining a spiral of smoke rising up, is fine.
We are making a Global Lhasang to benefit the earth.
With good intention we will make offerings.
And do the best we can.
What you can do to participate:
If you have comments or questions, please email: [email protected]
Please join the world-wide Shambhala sangha for this global lhasang on the equinox and be part of a powerful collective expression of Touching the Earth’s Mission Statement:
“Clearly seeing the need for an urgent response to human caused environmental degradation Touching the Earth warriors invite individual and collective action for the rebalancing, protection and celebration of a healthy living world.”