Taiwan Kagyu Monlam Day Three

Time: May 22, 2011
Place: Armed Forces Hero House, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Reporter: Fu-Hua Feng
Photographer: Pema Orser Dorje
Editor: Karen Lucic
 

 

“As I see each one of you, endowed with faith and devotion, apply yourself diligently to practices, I conclude that Taiwanese are the most devoted people to the Buddha Dharma in the world. Your earnest dedication to the Dharma is most steadfast, and I have witnessed this with my own eyes. I hope that you continue to practice the Dharma, doing many more virtuous acts and taking care of more beings!” Thus Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche spoke to devotees on the concluding day of the Taiwan Kagyu Monlam. Instantly, Rinpoche’s words touched and warmed everyone’s heart.

Under the guidance of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, the first Taiwan Kagyu Monlam followed the traditional Kagyu Monlam Chenmo format, coming to completion today. After the Sojong Vows, Thrangu Rinpoche continued by bestowing the Karma Pakshi Empowerment to remove obstacles in the Dharma practices of the attendees. The afternoon program included the Offerings to the Gurus, the sponsor appreciation ceremony, and the much anticipated event of the Lamp Prayer Ceremony.

Take Refuge with the Mind of Bodhicitta

Next Rinpoche bestowed the Refuge Vow. One hundred and forty seven people knelt down to receive Refuge, forming a long line beginning at the stage and coming down on both sides of the central walkway. The youngest among them was a six month old baby, whose family traveled to this event from Shanghai. Her mother held her tightly to her chest, kneeling to receive the Vow as well. After the Refuge ceremony and the hair cutting ritual, the baby girl gripped the Refuge booklet in her two tiny hands and smiled charmingly.

Then Rinpoche gave a teaching on Refuge as follows:

“Taking refuge in the Three Jewels means taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and you shall think from the bottom of your heart that: ‘I want to take Refuge in the Three Jewels.’ Whether you really receive the Refuge Vow or not depends on your mind. The moment when the preceptor snaps his finger, if you have the conviction that ‘I get it!,’ then you have received the Refuge Vow.

The supreme motivation for taking Refuge is based on renunciation and Bodhicitta for delivering beings to Buddhahood. Having received Refuge, one should feel rejoicing and can start practicing the Dharma. Holding the ritual of hair cutting and handing out the Refuge booklet is to remind us not to forget the Dharma.”

At the end, Rinpoche blessed the Refuge recipients by reciting auspicious prayers, wishing that they will never break the Vow and are able to achieve the goal of their practices.

Karma Pakshi Empowerment

Next, Thrangu Rinpoche gave the 2nd Karmapa, Karma Pakshi Empowerment.

Rinpoche reminded people to receive this empowerment with devotion and to pray to the Karmapas. Receiving this empowerment means receiving blessings from all the Karmapas. Today the Karmapa lineage has propagated 17 reincarnations with unlimited compassion and blessings. Each Karmapa possessed distinctive qualities and activities, and in particular Karma Pakshi was known for his miraculous powers and meditative concentration.

Rinpoche indicated that when we jointly supplicate Karma Pakshi for blessing, it can then eliminate our shared obstacles and help us to obtain communal achievement of our Dharma practices.

There are in total 11 parts of the empowerment. Rinpoche thoughtfully reminded people to think that “I have received this empowerment now!” at the end of each.

At the end of the initiation, Rinpoche drew people’s attention to recent occurrences of wars, diseases, and natural disasters, and he expressed the hope that all the participants dedicate the merit to world peace and the well-being of all people, wishing them happiness, freedom from sufferings, and to obtain Buddhahood swiftly.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, thousands of devotees lined up to receive a blessing directly from Thrangu Rinpoche, as well as from the sacred objects held by Sonam Chopel Rinpoche, Tulku Pasang Rinpoche, Gyatso Rinpoche, Chopel Rinpoche, and Dampa Rinpoche. As people moved along the line, they could not help but exclaim “How lucky we are!”

Thrangu Rinpoche’s Concluding Remarks

The afternoon program began with Offering to the Gurus and The Branch of Confession. Lama Chodrak, the executive officer of the International Kagyu Monlam Organization, and the chairman of the Chinese Vajrayana Karma Kagyu Association made a mandala offering to Thrangu Rinpoche on behalf of all. Following this was the recitation of the The Long Life Prayer for Dalai Lama written by the 17th Karmapa and the The Long Life Prayer for the 17th Karmapa by the 14th Dalai Lama.

Rinpoche delivered concluding remarks as follows:

”On this completion day, I would like to say to Rinpoches, Tulkus, the Sangha from both the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, and all lay people here ‘Tashi Delek!’

The session title shown on the program schedule is ‘Public Speech’, which has the connotation of ‘supervision’ in Tibetan translation. Generally, supervision is only needed when people make mistakes, have problems, or do not have enough merit, and through supervision people can gain merit. However, I think I can let pass the supervision this time because nobody here has problems but only merit.

As I see each one of you, endowed with faith and devotion, apply yourself diligently to the practices, I conclude that Taiwanese are the most devoted people to the Buddha Dharma. Normally in a developed country like this, some have time for practice, but still many others claim to have no time for practice. However, your earnest commitment to the Dharma is most steadfast, and that I have witnessed with my own eyes.

At the same time, I have seen the Mahayana tradition flourishing in Taiwan, with well-established Sanghas and numerous monasteries. Many people in the Sanghas assiduously apply themselves to Dharma practices and studies. Particularly, I see many lay people with great devotion. Though some people are too busy to completely dedicate themselves to practices, they still do their best to support the Buddha Dharma, taking care of the Sangha and helping even more people. Therefore, I am confident saying that I have not seen a single count of misdeeds in the gathering here this time, but only boundless merit. I want to thank you all again!

Not only is Buddhism well developed in Taiwan as I mentioned before, but the living and social conditions, the culture, and education are also very well established.

I don’t have anything particular to add, but only one reminder from the bottom of my heart: Please continue with your virtuous deeds; whether it is practicing the Buddha Dharma, supporting the Sangha, or taking care of more lives, please continuously do so. I will pray for you that everything you do is peaceful, joyful, and harmless.

Thank you! Tashi Delek!”

After the speech, Rinpoche presided over the chanting of Dedication to the Living and the Deceased and Aspiration for Accomplishment. In the sponsor appreciation ceremony, those honored were asked to sit in front of Rinpoche to receive blessing. Rinpoche then recited the Auspicious Prayer of Eight Sacred Objects, Auspicious Prayer of Seven Treasures for Governance, Eight Auspiciousness Prayer, and Aspiration Prayer of Milarepa. Afterwards, the whole Sangha and lay people recited Auspiciousness of the Three Jewels, Lord Marpa’s Song of Auspiciousness, The Auspiciousness of the Great Encampment, and Prayer to Accomplish the Truth.

While reciting these auspicious prayers, people waved white khatas (Tibetan white scarves) in their hands, saluting the Karmapa, the sacred relics, all deities in the mandala, the Dharma protectors, and the dakas and dakinis. They prayed for world peace and happiness for all beings. In the melodious chanting of Blaze of Auspiciousness, thus was the third session concluded, while Rinpoche beamed his trademark smile. He was greeted with an ocean of khatas, bursts of applause and cheers on his way out. Afterward, the chanting of “Karmapa Khyenno” arose and continued to resonate in the air for a long time.

Lamp Prayer Ceremony

The assembly most looked forward to the Lamp Prayer Ceremony, which was held in Kaohsiung this year along with other parts of the program. A half hour before the ceremony started, many had arrived to receive LED rainbow colored flashlights. Participants playfully turned on and off the flashlights, checking out these clever gadgets and chatting away in excitement. As the rainbow light illuminated their faces, so it lit up their hearts.

The ceremony started with the chanting of the Chenrezig sandhana led by the chanting master. Quickly, people were immersed in Chenrezig’ compassionate six-syllable mantra, and were inspired to diligently pursue the aspiration: “May I obtain Buddhahood to benefit beings.” The Lamp Prayer was recited in Tibetan and Chinese sequentially, and in an ocean of rainbow lights that resonated with the equally luminous mandala. People earnestly prayed together: “May this bright light eliminate all the darkness in the three realms, and may all beings see the pure lands of the Buddhas in ten directions.”

As soon as the music came to a halt, there came a roar of applause. Lama Chodrak, the executive officer of the International Kagyu Monlam Organization and chairman Ji of the Chinese Vajrayana Karma Kagyu Association got on stage to deliver their short speeches. They acknowledged Thrangu Rinpoche, other Rinpoches, Khenpos, Lamas from various foreign countries, particularly, the chanting master, shrine keepers, and disciplinarians from India, local Sangha members coming from different places in Taiwan, volunteers and lay people from the Dharma centers in Taiwan, for their united efforts in making this event a such great success. Lastly, they also wished everyone to continuously support His Holiness the Karmapa’s activities so that all beings can enjoy the graciousness of the Buddhas.