To capitalise on the power of the month, it is important to avoid non-virtuous and harmful activities and to engage in virtuous and positive actions during the month. Remembering the Buddha and his enlightened activities, it is important to benefit others and wish all sentient beings to be free from suffering and to be enlightened. One must, in the constant awareness of the Buddha, also strive to live up to his noble ideals, principles and wishes.

Karma Phuntsho is the Director of Shejun Agency for Bhutan’s Cultural Documentation and Research, founder of the Loden Foundation and the author of The History of Bhutan. The piece was initially published in Bhutan’s national newspaper Kuensel in a series called Why we do what we do.