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 also monthly Upavasatha Renewal Day, when we renew of Vinaya and Bodhisattva Vows. In many lineages it is Vajrasattva Puja Day. It is auspicious for all practices, and especially Shakyamuni Buddha practices, Vajrasattva and other purification practices such as Vajrakilaya.

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:

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.

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:

It is also an auspicious day for Dharanis and mantras, such as

Heart Dharani of Avalokiteshvara 1000-armed:

Or, 21 Taras great Dharani, praising the 21 forms of Tara:

Or, the very powerful Dharani of Amitabha:

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