Lama Zopa advised: The New Moon or “30th of Tibetan month; good for all practices.”

Lunar 30th Day New moon practices arose from the ancient tradition of Upavasatha or the practice of renewal on the new moon day. It is auspicious for all practices, and especially Shakyamuni Buddha practices, Vajrasattva and other purification practices such as Vajrakilaya (the supremely wrathful form of Vajrasattva) and Vajrapani (the wrathful form of Vajrasattva). Practicing the Ushnisha Vijaya (Namgyelma) Dharani also purifies the deepest of downfalls and serious transgressions of all lives.

Vajrasattva 15-Minute Purification Practice with Chanted 100-Syllable Mantra (full practice):

The last day of the lunar month, or New Moon, is very auspicious and has high merit for all practices but it is especially the day for purifying all the negative karma of the previous month for a fresh start on the new month. Especially important for Mahayana Buddhists is Vajrasattva’s 100-syllable mantra, which purifies all negative karmas.

Vajrasattva Purifying Mantra

Chant along, with Buddha Weekly, the Vajrasattva purifying mantra to purify all negative deeds and karma from the past month and year, and enter the new month without the burden of negative karma:

Ideally, chant 3, 7, 21 or 108 times while visualizing purifying white light coming from the heart of Vajrasattva entering your body and purifying you

Vajrakilaya Practice

For those who practice Vajrasattva’s more energetic form, wrathful Vajrakilaya, this is his day. Vajarakilaya is Vajrasattva’s supremely wrathful form, combining all five activities into one. In addition to pacifying, he is the wrathful (or energetic) aspect of all five activities of all five Buddha Families. This is signfied by

Vajrakilaya is the most “cutting” of wrathful meditational deities — a wrathful Heruka (‘hero’) emanation of glorious Vajrasattva. At the same time, he is the ultimate expression of Bodhichitta and compassion and love. He is the Heruka of activity and represents the Enlightened activity of ALL of the Buddhas. This aspect of the Buddha is the “sharp weapon” against the big three enemies, the “demons” of craving and greed, hate and hostility, and ignorance and misapprehension.

At the same time, ferociousness notwithstanding, he is a fully Enlightened Buddha, with unlimited love, compassion, and Bodhichitta. Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche explains:

“In this regard, in the Vajrakīla literature, there is a very meaningful prayer of blessing that says, “All the buddhas regard beings with a mind of great love.” When its meaning has been understood, each word of this line has the power and ability to calm one’s mind. The deity’s heart essence is love and affection. The very nature of his or her past pledge to sentient ones is loving-kindness. Each time one gives rise to it—even if one is only focused on a tiny insect—it becomes a cause for accomplishing the supreme siddhi. When one repeatedly cultivates  an actual feeling of love and affection, that itself is the deity’s mind. That is the accomplishment of the yidam. On this basis, immeasurable great love can arise. This essential point must be understood.”

• For more on Vajrakilaya, see our full feature “Vajrakilaya — Put a Peg in it!”>>

Sutra Readings and Shakyamuni Buddha Practices

This is especially a good day for Sutra readings, Sadhanas, and Pujas of your own Yidam, or Shakyamuni if you don’t yet have a personal Yidam, or any (or all) of the Three Great Bodhisattvas, and most of the great Enlightened Ones, such as Avalokiteshvara, Tara, Amitabha, Manjushri, Vajrapani, and any Buddha or Bodhisattva.

Especially meritorious and purifying is the Heart Sutra.

Recitation of Heart Sutra in Sanskrit:

Or recite in English:

Vajrapani

Vajrapani has many forms, but in his semi wrathful two-armed form he is a form of wrathful Vajrasattva. In this form, his special day is also the day of the new moon, or renewal. We ask for his fierce energy to protect us in the coming new month (the next day is the first of the next month.)

Vajrapani mantra video:

Nine-Minute Vajrapani Practice recitation with Vajra Armor Mantra!:

Ushnisha Vijaya Dharani: Purifies all past lives karma:

Uposatha or Upavasatha

The practice of purification in all traditions arose from the ancient observance of Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) —  new moon lunar day of renewal — honored and celebrated since the Buddha’s time (600 BCE), and still being kept today by Buddhist practitioners of all traditions and lineages.

The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for “the cleansing of the defiled mind,” resulting in inner calm and joy.

On this day, both lay and ordained members of the sangha make a sincere effort to perfect and purify their practice, often with retaking of the vows. Lay practitioners make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or even all of the monastic precepts for just the day. It is a day for practicing the Buddha’s teachings and meditation.

King of Prayers

For any special day Samantrabhadra’s King of Prayers is the perfect Bodhisattva Practice. Here, chanted in Sanskrit:

Vairochana Buddha

Lord of the Buddha Tathagata Family, purifies Ignorance, and is White representing Dharmadatu Wisdom overcoming ignorance, and purifies especially the Skhanda of Form. His symbol is the 8-spoked Dharma Wheel.

His Mantra of Light is supremely purifying and powerful:

Vairchana’s heart mantra chanted for 1 hour:

Another powerful practice on Renewal Day is to RENEW YOUR VOWS — Bodhisattva  and Five Buddha Vows :