Long life celebrations in the year of the Dragon 12th December 2024 In order to celebrate the vast and melodious dharma activity of our precious teacher, Lama Jampa Thaye, members of the Dechen Community offered over £2700 to sponsor a Long life tsok puja at Karma Thinley Rinpoche’s nunnery in Kathmandu, Tegchen Legshay Ling and also a Tsethar (long life) ritual. The long life puja took place on Lama Jampa’s birthday on 23rd October when the sangha performed a Tsedrup puja from the terma tradition of Ratna Lingpa. Offerings were made to Karma Thinley Rinpoche, all the monks and nuns and a special lunch was served. The occasion was dedicated to the long life and continuing health of Lama Jampa Thaye, his guru Karma Thinley Rinpoche, his students and for the benefit of all sentient beings. This is the year of the dragon which was also the year of Lama Jampa’s birth and in order to counter any obstacles or difficulties which sometimes arise, a Tsethar ritual was also sponsored in Nangchen, Kham on the auspicious day of Lhabab Duchen, the fourth Buddha day this year. The Dechen Community sponsored the saving of the life of four female yaks who were marked by multicoloured ear markings. These yaks will now live out the rest of their lives on the high nomad pasturelands of the Bongsar family which Rinpoche was born into.