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Kagyu Monlam -- for the spread of peace and happiness throughout the world December 26, 2007, report by Karma Palmo, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Pema
December 26, 2007, report by Karma Palmo, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Pema
December 25, 2007, report by Karma Palmo, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Pema
December 24, 2007, report by Karma Palmo & Jo Gibson, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Norbu & Taiwan Life TV
December 23, 2007, report by Jo Gibson, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Norbu & Taiwan Life TV
December 22, 2007, report by Jo Gibson, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Norbu & Taiwan Life TV
December 21, 2007, report by Jo Gibson, photos taken by Karma Lekcho & Karma Norbu & Taiwan Life TV
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The
25th Monlam Chenmo is completed, not only in this place. I believe it is
also completed in everybody’s heart.
Throughout
my life I have always felt that the outer natural elements and my own mind
are close. I have a special connection with the four elements. I am not
being superstitious and saying I can talk to the elements, but sometimes it
feels that way. 
Before
leaving the Mahabodhi Stupa, Gyalwang Karmapa said that it
was his last chance to talk to the participants gathered for
the International Kagyu Monlam. He described how the Kagyu
Monlam has been held 25 times in India, headed by the Gewa’i
Shenyen, Bokar Rinpoche. Many great masters came, and
hundreds and thousands of participants prayed for peace and
happiness in the world and made the firm dedication that
this would actually eventuate. So, this year, the
International Kagyu Monlam offered free medical service and
5,600 people received treatment; this is a practical
application of the aspiration to be of benefit to beings, of
the relieving of pain and of the expression of not only mere
words but real results achieved for sentient beings.
On
December 26, Gyalwang Karmapa spent one session teaching on
the Medicine Buddha sadhana, ‘A Sadhana of Menlha, Compiled
from the Clear Expanse of Mind, A Mind Treasure Found Within
the Sky of Dharma Texts called, “A Stream of Vaidurya”.’
As
a special addition to the Silver Jubilee 25th Kagyu Monlam,
His Holiness said that for three days the practice of
Medicine Buddha would be performed, and in the morning of
this first day, he would like to offer an empowerment of
Medicine Buddha, followed by a teaching session on the
Medicine Buddha practice the next day. 
The
final day of the 25th International Kagyu Monlam began at
6.00am as the mist cleared and the sky lightened. Gyaltsab
Rinpoche conferred the Sojong vows.
The
main event of the morning was the Procession of the Kangyur;
all 108 volumes of the Sutra and Vinaya were carried by
monks in procession around the outer and inner circuits of
the Mahabodhi temple. The procession began from the bodhi
tree at 7.30am. At its head came the incense-bearing,
yellow-hatted chostenpas, the discipline masters, behind
them a solitary monk blew a large white conch, which
represents the sound of the Noble Dharma. After that came
two monks blowing gyalings. Master Hai Tao, a Taiwanese
lama, in the ochre robes of the Chinese Mahayana tradition,
and the Venerable Hye Neung, Tibet House, Korea, in the long
grey robes of a Korean monk, led the next section. They were
followed by Mingyur Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Jamgon
Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Gyalwang Karmapa, in that order,
wearing their red tsesha which signify high Rinpoches in the
Kagyu tradition, and carrying posna (traditional Tibetan
incense holders).
At
11.30am Gyalwang Karmapa held a press conference on the 25th
International Kagyu Monlam at Tergar Monastery. Twenty eight
reporters, photographers and film crew, representing
fourteen different agencies and seven countries, attended
the conference. They received a pack of information about
the Kagyu Monlam in either English or Chinese, and a small
souvenir gift of a hat and tee shirt. Gyalwang Karmapa
welcomed them and extended prayers and good wishes to all on
behalf of Kagyu Monlam. 
Gyalwang
Karmapa arrived at 6.00am and conferred the Sojong vows. 
Before
dawn broke, Choje Gyaltsab Rinpoche conferred the Sojong vows at the Mahabodhi
Temple and led the first session of the Monlam from 6.00am until 9.00am. 
Khenchen
Thrangu Rinpoche gave the Sojong Vows and led the first part of the Monlam
prayers. There was a change in the schedule and Pal Gyalwang Karmapa arrived
at 7.00am for the conclusion of a special Tsedrub Ritual for him, sponsored
by The Kagyu Monlam Working Team. The Tsedrub began at Tergar Monastery on
December 13th and concluded at the Mahabodhi Temple this morning, with the
offering of a Tenshug (usually referred to as a ‘Long Life Prayer’). Choje
Gyaltsab Rinpoche was the Vajra Master.
After
attending the second session of the Kagyu Monlam at the Mahabodhi Stupa, the
Gyalwang Karmapa visited the Medical Camp at Birla Mandir in Bodhgaya, in
order to bless the activity. 
5.15am
and the dark streets of this small town, little more than a village, were
alive with hundreds of people making their way through the pre-dawn gloom to
the Mahabodhi Temple. Monks and nuns and laypeople, both Tibetans and
foreigners, thronged through the massive red Torii gates. Designed by
Gyalwang Karmapa and engineered by Choekyi Gyatso, they were built by eight
carpenters brought in specially, and took three months to complete. Then,
for two whole days and nights, the carpenters worked non-stop to erect them
in place at the entrance to the Mahabodhi site. These massive gates
represent sanctuary.
As
part of the on-going programme to train up monks and nuns in the new codes
of conduct, the Gyalwang Karmapa personally tested gelongmas in his private
shrine room this morning. Twelve nuns presented themselves at the
examination
At
a short meeting in the main hall at Tergar Monastery, the Gyalwang Karmapa
met a group of about 300 volunteers who are working for the 25th Kagyu
Monlam. After thanking them all for the work they are doing, he encouraged
them and advised that whenever difficulties or hardships arose they should
keep Shakyamuni Buddha in mind and be inspired by the thought of world peace
so that the difficulties and hardships would have meaning.
At
a special meeting for gelongma (Sanskrit: Bhiksuni), held in his private
room at Tergar Monastery this morning, the Gyalwang Karmapa welcomed
everyone who had come to attend the 25th Kagyu Monlam. He then gave a short
talk, discussing the reasons why he had specially invited the gelongma to
attend Kagyu Monlam. 
At
a meeting with the Kagyu Monlam Committee members, the Gyalwang Karmapa
shared his clear and moving vision of how the Kagyu Monlam should be. He
clarified the origins of the reasons and conditions for Monlam, explaining
that Monlam means aspirations, giving as an example Shakyamuni Buddha. When
the Buddha made the aspiration to attain the mind of enlightenment, he
offered a simple bowl of soup – a small thing, but offered with pure
motivation for the ultimate aspiration. So, although it was such a small
thing, its blessings pervaded the whole of space and benefited all beings.
In
2004 the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa issued new instructions on conduct to members
of the Kagyu Sangha attending the Kagyu Monlam. In March 2007, there was a
meeting at Gyuto of representatives from different monasteries and nunneries
and the Gyalwang Karmapa personally instructed them in the new codes. They
were then asked to teach these back in their own monasteries and nunneries.
This
year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kagyu Monlam at the Buddhist holy
site of Bodhgaya. This is a small milestone in the Kagyu lineage’s
activities for the benefit of sentient beings, but a big step forward for
world peace and well-being. So, first of all, I would like to thank all
staff members, participants, and those who have supported and been involved
in the Monlam over the last 25 years. Because of the power of your
aspirations and long-standing support and diligence, I sincerely hope that
the Kagyu Monlam will not remain static but will flourish until peace and
well-being permeate every corner of the world.
The
25th Kagyu Monlam will be held