24 November, 2013 – Martam Sikkim.

On Lhabab Düchen, the 24th November, 2013, Kyabje Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche led the prayers and blessing ceremonies to inaugurate Drub De Yid Wong Sam Ten Ling, the new Dharma Chakra Centre retreat centre at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. He also offered prayers during the installation of the Ganjera on the retreat centre roof top and inaugurated its new shrine room. Thousands of people from the nearby villages and towns of Martam, Song, Khamdong, Rumtek, Sajong and Gangtok gathered at Martam to celebrate this auspicious occasion. The chief guest was the Hon. Justice of the Sikkim High Court, Mr Sonam Wangdi.

The new retreat centre is named after the retreat centre at Tsurphu Monastery in Tibet, the principal seat of the 900-year-old Karmapa lineage. His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje chose this name for the retreat centre he established near Rumtek. In keeping with this tradition, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje decided that the same name should be retained for the new retreat centre, the first major project he initiated after he came to India.

During the second half of the programme Khenpo Kesang Nyima of Karmae Shri Nalanda Institute read out a message from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, followed by talks on the background and construction of the retreat centre given by Deputy General Secretary Mr Karma Chungyalpa in English and Khenpo Kesang Nyima in Tibetan. Finally, Kyabje Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche spoke about the historical background. Special thanks and acknowledgements were given to Martam family for the land they had offered, and to Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and Ven. Bardor Tulku Rinpoche for their generous help and financial support towards the construction.

In conclusion, students of Karmae Dharma Chakra School, Shri Nalanda Institute, St Joseph’s Convent, and also Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre lay community gave a multi-cultural presentation representative of the various ethnic communities in Sikkim.

The new centre’s first retreat of 13 monks began on 26th November after all the retreatants received the necessary blessings and empowerments from Kyabje Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche.