Sagadawa Düchen
Sagadawa (Feeding the Community)
Sunday, May 31st, 2026
Mahayana Sojong Vows at 5:00am
Feeding the Community (Cooking and Distributing) at 8:00am - 1:00pm
Guru Puja (Members Only) 5:00pm - 8:00pm
We warmly invite you to join us in person on Sunday, May 31st, for our Sagadawa Düchen events. This is one of the most sacred days in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. On this auspicious day, we come together in practice, generosity, and community to honour the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Under the guidance of our Spiritual Director, Kushok Lobsang Dhamchöe, we will gather for a full day of meaningful activities, beginning in the early morning and continuing into the evening.
Please note that this is an in person event and will not be offered on Zoom.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, May 31st, 2026
Location: Alberta Centre for Peace and Meditation
11403 101 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2A9
Mahayana Sojong Vows
5:00 AM to 6:30 AM
Feeding the Community
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Guru Puja
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Members Only)
Sagadawa Düchen is a profoundly powerful day of merit. Kushok has shared that due to the blessings of Buddha Shakyamuni’s practice, the karmic results of our actions (positive or negative) on this day are multiplied 10,000,000 times. It is a rare and precious opportunity to engage in virtue, deepen our practice, and extend compassion to others.
About Mahayana Sojong Vows
Mahayana Sojong Vows are ethical commitments taken for 24 hours, grounded in compassion and the aspiration to benefit all sentient beings. Observing these vows allows us to cultivate awareness and greatly increase our positive merit.
Feeding the Community
As part of our Sagadawa offering, we will be preparing and serving food to members of the community who are be experiencing homelessness or other vulnerable struggles.
Kushok and Geshe La will be joining us in cooking, and we will gather together in the spirit of generosity and service as we work toward the goal of preparing 600 burgers this year.
We invite any members and friends who feel called to support this offering to join us in the kitchen. Whether you are able to assist with food preparation, cooking, serving, or clean up, your presence and contribution would be deeply appreciated. This is a beautiful way to actively participate in the practice of generosity on this meaningful day.
If you are available, you are welcome to arrive at the temple at any time between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Please sign up to volunteer here: Volunteer Sign Up
Food Drive
In addition, we will be collecting food donations throughout Sagadawa. All offerings will be dedicated on behalf of the Gaden Samten Ling Dharma Family and offered to the Edmonton Food Bank, allowing all participants to share in this collective merit.
Donation drop off dates:
Monday, May 25th to Sunday, May 31st, 2026
Drop off hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
If you need to arrange an alternate drop off time, please contact the office at info@gsl-ab.ca.
Most needed items include:
-Canned beans
-Canned meat
-Baby formula
-Peanut butter
-Soup
-Canned fruit and vegetables
-Pasta and pasta sauce
-Healthy snacks such as fruit cups, granola bars, and 100 percent juice
If you prefer to make a financial donation, you may do so directly through the Edmonton Food Bank.
If you have any questions about the Sagadawa events or any upcoming offerings at Gaden Samten Ling, please feel welcome to contact our office at info@gsl-ab.ca.
Thank you for your continued support and presence within our community. We hope you will join us in these shared acts of practice and generosity, and in offering care to our wider Edmonton community.