5 March, 2012 Bodhgaya - Once more the day at the Monlam Pavilion began early at 5.30am. The webcast team was in their places, ready to start broadcasting as Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche commenced the Mahayana Sojong vows. He sat on a cushion facing the assembly and read the vow-taking ritual... read more →
Mar
05
Mar
04
4 March, 2012 Bodhgaya This morning began with another first. H.E. the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Chökyi Nyima gave the Mahayana Sojong vows to those gathered before dawn at the Monlam Pavilion for the very first time. The surrounding fields resounded with the chattering of waking birds, as, in a... read more →
Mar
03
3 March, 2012 Bodhgaya According to science, this earth is the only planet where all of the positive conditions exist for human life. So to have all the conditions necessary for life is very rare. And human beings have a special quality that other beings lack: we are able to... read more →
Mar
02
2 March, 2012 Bodhgaya At the close of the first day, the chief chötrimpa (disciplinarian) gently chided some of the monks for being late for the first session of the Monlam. Today, everyone was on time. The session began with Gyaltsap Rinpoche bestowing the Mahayana Sojong vows, proceeded on to... read more →
Mar
01
29 1 March, 2012 Bodhgaya The sounds of auto rickshaws reverberated through Bodhgaya in the wee hours of March 1st, 2012 as monks, nuns and laypeople made their way to Tergar Monastery to attend the first day of the eight-day Kagyu Monlam prayer festival, and to receive Mahayana Sojong vows.... read more →
Feb
27
27 February, 2012 Bodhgaya (Monlam Pavilion) Gyalwang Karmapa began the second day of his teachings on the Vajradhara Lineage Prayer by providing further explanations on the previous day's teachings on the history of the Karma Kagyu lineage. His Holiness spoke at length on the role of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche in... read more →
Feb
26
26 February, 2012 Bodhgaya (Monlam Pavilion) February 26 is the first of the three days of teachings by the Gyalwang Karmapa to both the lay and ordained sangha. Coming from all over the world, they fill the ground under the vast blue arch of the tent, reminding us that the... read more →