Once we are born in this world, we engage in all the activities of this world. Thus, our birth is the most significant event of this life, and therefore, in order to commemorate this remarkable event, we celebrate our birthdays.

We have ways to mark the occasion, but since we are Buddhists in the Tibetan tradition, if we celebrate birthdays accordingly, we can further increase our accumulation of virtue per our spiritual path and come to experience increased happiness and well being in future existences.

This new text (འཁྲུངས་སྐར་ཞལ་འདོན།) by Khenpo Ghawang can be recited to celebrate the birthday of both exalted teachers and ordinary beings. To facilitate using these prayers to commemorate the birthday of one’s teacher, this ebook contains an appendix of long life prayers for many prominent Karma Kagyu masters.