The first time I took my daughter to Losar services, she was very little and very cute, and she caught the eye of Rimpoche, who leaned over and whispered something in someone’s ear. Suddenly, a handful of chocolate appeared before us. Awhile later, she caught his eye again, and another lean, another whisper, another handful of chocolate.

When we offered Rimpoche a white kata scarf at the end of services, he gave us yet another handful of chocolate. She loved Tibetan New Year. She thought it had something to do with getting lots and lots of chocolate. She also remembered the bread that we took home as prasad. Now that she is older, she will better understand the meanings behind the offerings and the gratitude, but there is something to be said for being able to feel it directly, as a child.

Losar is Tibetan New Year. Jewel Heart will be having special Losar services on Sunday, February 14, 10am.

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American from California who now divides her time between Ann Arbor and the Big Island of Hawaii. She is editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village, lead multicultural contributor for AnnArbor.com, and a contributor for New America Media's Ethnoblog. She is a popular speaker on Asian Pacific American and multicultural issues. Check out her website at franceskaihwawang.com, her blog at franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com, and she can be reached at fkwang888@gmail.com.