Dear Friends of Vajra Vidya Foundation,

This is the time of the new year in the Tibetan lunar calendar.  This is the Year of the Water Dragon.  It is a time of renewal and celebration.

"The Losar Festival in Tibet is the biggest event in the year. Celebrated with great fervour the event is filled with age old ceremonies that commemorate the struggle between good and evil. The Tibetan people come out on the streets and chant, pass fire torches, dance and sing - a time for general merriment essentially!"

This year, however, activities are very subdued and distressed as tensions rise in Tibet and China and worldwide. Many monks and nuns have set themselves on fire to protest the lack of religious and political freedom in the Tibetan area.  Just yesterday a 19-year-old monk self-immolated in protest. 

Send out your prayers for peace in this Year of the Water Dragon.