[2026 January DCTB Mindfulness Tip]
2025 was a year of shedding. Whether we were ready or not, the things no longer meant for us fell away. It could have been physical things, like an old printer that finally died, or relationships that were no longer bringing out the best in each other, or habits that no longer served our highest good, or even ideas and projects that were once important to us. Whatever they were and no matter how much we clung to them, they are gone. Honor the grief, honor the past, and keep moving forward. The space created by that letting go prepares us for the new year and our new mission.
The oracles tell us 2026 is a year of action, of putting into motion our ideals. At Dharma Center of Trikaya Buddhism, we are excited to embrace the new year with a new mission: the 108 Lights Movement.
While our mission has always been to share with everyone the Dharma through the teachings of Trikaya Buddhism – and of course this will continue – we are clarifying the ultimate goal of our practice. All Buddhist practice is about Awakening, about discovering and embodying the Enlightenment which you are.
But what does that mean in practical terms?
For us, Awakening does not mean to disappear into a private nirvana, secluded from the horrors of the world of samsara. In our practice, on our tantric pathway, Awakening is the reconciliation of opposites: it is the recognition that samsara is nirvana and nirvana is samsara. This takes tremendous honesty and humility. It requires we release every attachment and willingly open to embrace the formless infinite from within our tiny finite form.
The 108 Lights Movement facilitates the embodiment of Enlightenment. We do not expect everyone to be able to jump directly into this practice. It is an ideal that demonstrates the purpose of Trikaya Buddhism, and we invite you to participate.
Below is a 60 second video with a brief overview of the practice. A video with a longer explanation is included in the video’s description.
Essentially, as one of the 108 Lights, we use our very being to illuminate this world. After we have filled ourselves with Light, only after we have done our personal practice and entered a state of equanimity, unreasonable joy and unconditional peace, can we selflessly give that Light away. Unconditionally, without hesitation, without imprinting what we think the world should look like. To do this means to consciously release our ideas of how others should be and to willingly let go of our intentions of what we think should be created. Our mission is simply to let the Light pour through us, to illuminate all just as it is now. To simply be a pillar of Light.
When we shine, the whole world lights up.
During this practice, challenges will arise. In the Light, we see where we are holding back, holding on, and pushing through. Our desires and hang-ups become crystal clear. There is no place to run and we must deal with them head on. When others interact with us, they may also see the things they have held in the shadows.
Again, the mission – should you choose to accept it – is to give away the Light you have worked so hard to cultivate, without judgment and without imprinting your desires upon it. It is vital to continue to cultivate the Light for the benefit of your being – if you do not take care of yourself, how can you serve others? Continue to fill yourself up to the brim, and then release it for all others. To be like the Sun – shining equally on all, no matter what.
The practice is to catch yourself with humility when you are tempted to force your impressions, to withhold your energy from some and give it to others. To look at those tendencies as they arise, and release that holding into the purity of Light. We hurl ourselves into the Light and allow the Light to do with us as it will, over and over, and over again. Instead of trying to move the light, we allow the Light to move us.
The new year and the new mission have already begun. Welcome to the age of 108 Lights!
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