Umze Karma Woser Rabten trains new Umzes

December 24, 2008, report by Jo Gibson, photos taken by Karma Lekcho, Karma Norbu

Umze Bai Karma was putting his heart and voice into training a group of monks to be future Kagyu Monlam Umzes (chant leaders), who were gathered in a circle on the lawn below. Together they practiced the Kagyu Mahamudra Lineage Prayer, Twenty One Praises to Tara, and the Aspiration from The Song of Milarepa, as well as other important prayers, and their measured tones drifted up and into the Christmas Eve party above.

Afterwards the group of would-be Umzes went upstairs into the Drolma Khang where Gyalwang Karmapa listened attentively and checked their progress. Most of the tunes used during Kagyu Monlam have been composed by His Holiness himself, so he was keen to ensure that everyone was keeping to the correct tune and rhythm.