In the Tibetan tradition, many sacred rituals and practices, including the celebration of the Tibetan New Year, coincide with the phases of the moon. It is said that the beneficial effects of one’s meditation practice multiply exponentially at the time of the full moon. Twelve 24-hour practice sessions have been scheduled in 2021, plus an additional two sessions in 2022, to coincide with the full moon. The dates are listed below. Each session starts at 10 a.m. New York time and concludes at 10 a.m. the following day. If you are in a different time zone, to confirm the correct time conversion visit www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html—or, go to www.google.com and search for “time New York” to see what time it is now in New York (Eastern time U.S.).

• Thursday, January 28
• Friday, February 26
• Sunday, March 28
• Monday, April 26
• Tuesday, May 25
• Thursday, June 24
• Friday, July 23
• Saturday, August 21
• Monday, September 20
• Wednesday, October 20
• Thursday, November 18*
• Saturday, December 18
• Monday, January 17
• Wednesday, February 16

* In the United States, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 7, 2021, so be sure to take this one-hour difference into account when determining the time conversion for scheduled events.

February 16 Host Countries

From February 16 to 17, 2022, 16 teams of mantra recitation hosts from Ligmincha International communities will each commit to a 90-minute shift during the full moon Zoom session to ensure that the practice continues uninterrupted throughout the 24-hours. Each shift will begin with a 15- to 30-minute session of meditation guided by a mantra host in his or her native language. Listed according to the start time of each shift (New York time), these teams may include:

1. 10:00 USA
2. 11:30 Finland
3. 13:00 Germany
4. 14:30 Hungary, Italy
5. 16:00 Poland, Russia
6. 17:30 Brazil, Portugal
7. 19:00 Argentina, Colombia, Peru
8. 20:30 Costa Rica
9. 22:00 Mexico
10. 23:30 USA (California)
11. 01:00 The Netherlands
12. 02:30 Switzerland
13. 04:00 Austria
14. 05:30 France
15. 07:00 Korea
16. 08:30 Spain

In the Tibetan tradition, body, speech, and mind are known as the three doors to enlightenment, for they are the only tools we have for progressing on the spiritual path. Through these doors we either exit and become separated from our true nature, or we enter into the fullness of being, realizing and manifesting our capacities in this life for the benefit of others. Each full moon practice of 2021-2 marks the beginning of a full month of related practices, teachings, and dialogues.

The Month of the Body begins with a January 28 full moon practice related to resting with the stillness of the body, followed on February 26 with a full moon practice related to resting with the silence of speech, and on March 28 with a practice related to resting with the spaciousness of mind. This three-month cycle of body, speech, and mind will then repeat through the end of the 2021 program. The January and February 2022 full moon practices will focus on spaciousness of the mind.

Body refers here not only to our physical body and the tangible world around us, but also to our individual sense of identity as a human being. The teachings, discussions, and practices explored during the Month of the Body help us to connect to the door of the body, clearing obstacles to health and well-being through movement and stillness. Resting our awareness on the stillness of the body opens the door to the clear, open, unchanging experience of our true nature.

Speech refers not only to the words we speak, but also to the energy carried by our voice and our breath. The teachings, discussions, and practices of this month explore using speech, mantra, other forms of sound, and/or breathing practices to support us to connect with the pure, unceasing awareness of our true nature. Through allowing our voice to rest in silence, we draw attention to inner silence and continue to release effort that separates us from being fully present. A doorway to deep inner peace, resting in silence allows the light of pure awareness to dawn, awareness that illuminates the source of positive qualities within us and all beings.

Mind refers to our disturbing emotions and other distracted movements of the mind, as well as to the vast, open nature of mind—the source of all positive qualities—and the capacity to distinguish the difference. As we deepen our familiarity with resting deeply in a state of spacious awareness, the obstacles and obscurations of our habitual patterns naturally dissolve into the openness of our true nature and our positive qualities spontaneously arise from this source within.

To start each full moon session, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Marcy Vaughn, Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, or Lourdes Hinojosa guides us in a meditation practice that helps us to find peace through the stillness of the body, silence of speech, or spaciousness of the mind. As the formal practice session ends, designated mantra recitation hosts continue to guide participants in 5-minute sessions of mantra recitation alternating with 15 minutes of silence to support us in connecting deeply and remaining present with the qualities that become available as we abide in open awareness. As the next shift of mantra hosts begins, the primary host guides us in a 15- to 30-minute meditation in his or her native language, then continues as before with alternating sessions of mantra recitation and silence until the next shift begins. This cycle will continue uninterrupted for the remainder of the 24 hours.

For those who enter the session before or after a guided meditation, it’s suggested that they begin their personal practice by engaging in the self-guided meditation on their own before joining the mantra recitation or contemplative meditation. See “Practice Resources,” below, for the instructions and guidance needed to do the meditation practice and recite the mantra. It’s recommended that all participants review them in advance of each 24-hour session.

These resources can support you in the guided meditation and recitation of the mantra, as well as in the practice of silent contemplation. See “Available Translations,” below, for translated materials in multiple languages.​

Finding Peace through Stillness of the Body (October 20, 2021)

Meditation on Resting in the Stillness of the Body (PDF)
Jan. 28 guided meditation with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (video, 35 min.)
“Finding Serenity Through Stillness” (January 29, 2021; video, 61 min.)
“Beyond the Pain Body: How to Know It, How to Heal It” (April 25, 2021; video, 59 min.)
“Stillness as a Door to Your Inner Refuge: Entering the Dharmakaya” (October 19, 2021; video, 51 min.)

Finding Peace through Silence of Speech (November 18, 2021)

Meditation on Resting in the Silence of Speech (PDF)
“Finding Serenity through Silence” (February 25, 2021; video, 65 min.)
“Beyond Pain Speech: How to Know It, How to Heal It” (May 24, 2021; video, 40 min.)
“Silence as a Door to Your Inner Refuge: Entering the Sambhogakaya” (November 17, 2021; video, 61 min.)

Finding Peace through Spaciousness of the Mind (December 18, 2021; January 17, 2022; and February 16, 2022)

Meditation on Resting in Spaciousness of Mind (PDF)
“Finding Serenity through Spaciousness” (March 27, 2021; video, 65 min.)
“Beyond Pain Mind: How to Know It, How to Heal It” (June 23, 2021; video, 60 min.)
“Spaciousness as a Door to Your Inner Refuge: Entering the Nirmanakaya” (Friday, December 17, 2021)

About the Mantra

Audio recording of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche singing the A OM HUNG mantra:

Advance registration is required for each 24-hour full moon session. We ask you to review the following guidelines before registering to make this gathering a supportive experience for everyone:

• To create and sustain sacred space, enter the session with respect and awareness. Turn on your camera if it doesn’t turn on automatically upon entering the room. By seeing one another we can feel each other’s presence and support. Please be mindful of what appears on your screen to avoid creating distractions. All microphones will be muted by default except those of designated practice leaders.
• You are welcome to enter the Zoom session beginning at any time during the 24-hour period and as often as you like. But please join for at least 30 minutes at a time. If you enter after the initial guided meditation is over, we suggest that you begin your personal practice by engaging in the meditation on your own before participating (see “Practice Resources”).
• When you register for a given 24-hour Zoom session, you will be sent a unique link enabling you to enter that session. You must register to participate. If you know others who might like to participate, refer them to cybersangha.net so they can learn more and register.

REGISTER NOW FOR FEBRUARY 16-17

Materials to support your practice will be translated into multiple languages and made accessible via these links as soon as they are available. Note that any page of this website can be automatically translated into the language of your choice by clicking the “Translate” link (globe icon) in the top menu. The Google Translate tool isn’t perfect, but it can help you to navigate the site.

• October 20, 2021, translations: Practice of stillness of the body
• November 18, 2021: Practice of silence of speech
• December 18, 2021; January 17, 2022; and February 16, 2022: Practice of spaciousness of the mind

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is a teacher, acclaimed author, and meditation master in the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition. As the founder and spiritual director of Ligmincha International, he has established numerous centers and institutes of learning in the United States, Mexico, South America, Europe and India. Fluent in English, Rinpoche regularly offers online teachings in the form of live webcasts, online workshops and YouTube videos. He is renowned for his warmth and depth of wisdom; his clear, engaging teaching style; and his dedication to making the ancient Tibetan teachings highly accessible and relevant to the lives of Westerners. Learn more

Marcy Vaughn, Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, and Lourdes Hinojosa join Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche as practice leaders.

Marcy Vaughn has been a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism for more than 45 years and graduated in the first class of the master’s program in contemplative psychotherapy at Naropa University. Currently a therapist in private practice in Pennsylvania, USA, Marcy teaches meditation classes and leads retreats that explore imagery and voice in the healing process. Marcy edited the books Tibetan Sound Healing, Awakening the Sacred Body, Awakening the Luminous Mind, and Spontaneous Creativity, all by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. She helped design and teaches in The 3 Doors Academy, a three-year training program bringing contemplative practices to a secular world.

Alejandro Chaoul-Reich has studied in the Tibetan traditions since 1989, and for nearly 30 years in the Bön Tradition with Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. He holds a Ph.D. in Tibetan religions from Rice University and is the director of the Mind Body Spirit Institute at the Jung Center of Houston. For the last 20 years he has been teaching and researching the benefits of Tibetan mind-body practices for people touched by cancer. Alejandro is a Contemplative Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute, and is the author of Chöd Practice in the Bön Tradition (Snow Lion, 2009), Tibetan Yoga for Health & Well-Being (Hay House, 2018), and the forthcoming Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath, and Mind (Wisdom Publications, November 23, 2021).

Lourdes Hinojosa has practiced Bōn Buddhism since 1999, when she met her root lama, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, at Chamma Ling Valle de Bravo, Mexico. She graduated as a teacher of English as a second language from ITESM University, 1981. Since 1997 she has served as a reiki master — teacher and psychic astrologer — in private practice in Monterrey, Mexico. Lourdes graduated from The 3 Doors Academy and is a 3 Doors Authorized Presenter, as well as a practice guide (umdze), instructor, and board member for Ligmincha Mexico. She has joyfully translated Rinpoche’s teachings into Spanish since 2002; and as a member of the core CyberSangha team, coordinates volunteer translators for CyberSangha and Ligmincha International.