NEWS & CURRENT ACTIVITES

December 13, 2007: Interview with His Holiness

The Gyalwang Karmapa kindly gave the following interview at Tergar Monastery on 13th December, at the 25th Great Monlam Aspiration of the Glorious Unequaled Kagyu Sangha (Pal Nyammay Kagyupay Sangha Monlam Chenmo).

Q : Your Holiness, please could you explain the meaning of the word monlam?

GK : From the perspective of mind, the meaning of monlam can be explained in several ways. From the perspective of the individual it means having the profound wish [or aspiration] to bring happiness and well-being to others and simultaneously enhance our own root of virtue, dedicating that merit for the benefit of all sentient beings. That type of [wish-fulfilling] dream is monlam.

Q : What is its importance?

GK : Generally speaking, all major developments in human culture have come about as the result of hope and a clear vision. From the Buddhist point of view, our ultimate goal is to attain parinirvana; in this process, the role of aspiration is fundamental and threefold. At the beginning it is like the seed, in the middle it is like water and Read the rest of this article

On this page, a detailed summary of His Holiness’s activities is provided. At this website, we are also providing extensive reports on the activity of HIs Holiness at The 25th Great Kagyu Monlam on other pages:

• His Holiness’s Teachings at the 25th Great Kagyu Monlam
• Interview and Discussion with His Holiness about this year’s Great Kagyu Monlam Aspiration
• Photo galleries of His Holiness’s Annual Winter Tour

Great Kagyu Monlam Aspiration, 24th December

Mahabodhi Temple: 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, and was the presiding lama for the morning prayers. As with every previous day, the western and southern sides of the Stupa and surrounding the Bodhi Tree were crowded with monks and nuns cloaked in their maroon and Read the rest of this article

The Gyalwang Karmapa Welcomes Gelongmas to the Tibetan Tradition (December 13, 2007, Tergar Monastery)

13 December, 2007: This year, there is a strict code of conduct which all gelong and gelongma attending Kagyu Monlam must observe. All gelong and gelongma will have undergone three days training and a test in this code of conduct. During the Monlam they will be expected to attend every Monlam session, including the daily Sojong. They will eat only from the alms bowl, not eat after midday, and, on the final day, they must join the Alms Procession.

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 the Kagyu Monlam.

He recounted how, in 2004, when he took on the responsibility of overseeing the running of Kagyu Monlam, he began looking into the Vinaya and researching codes of conduct.

The Tibetan sangha has both gelong (fully ordained monks) and Read the rest of this article

His Holiness Dalai Lama was greeted by the Gyalwang Karmapa, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Mr Karma Chophel, Deputy Speaker Mrs Gyari Dolma, members of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, and heads of the all the Tibetan institutions in Dharamshala upon his arrival at the Gaggal airport near Dharamsala.

His Holiness Dalai Lama returned to Dharamsala after an historic visit to the United States, where he was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour, the Congressional Gold Medal, on October 17. Also duriing the visit to North America, he was officially met with a warm diplomatic welcome by the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, in his Parliament Hill Office in Ottawa. – Tashi Paljor Read the rest of this article

On the 27-28th of October at Gyuto Tantric University, His Holiness received the transmission of “Mila Gurbum” from Khamtrul Rinpoche. Khamtrul Rinpoche (Shedrup Nyima) is the 9th reincarnation in his line, and was recognized by 16th Karmapa and Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche. Khamtrul Rinpoche is the head of Khampagar Monastery of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage and currently is residing in Tashijong, Himachal Pradesh. – Tashi Paljor Read the rest of this article