March 18, 2011 – Vajra Vidya Institute, Sarnath
The first month of the Tibetan year is counted as extremely auspicious and contains several memorable festivals and anniversaries for Tibetan Buddhists and for the Kagyu Lineage in particular.
Milarepa Day: 18th March, 2011
Gyalwang Karmapa presided over the first part of the morning celebrations of Milarepa Day. He was accompanied by Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche, his senior tutor, the Vice-Chancellor of CUTS, Professor Ngawang Samten and the Head of the Kagyu Section, Khenpo Sogyal, who was responsible for organising the event. Each year Kagyu members of the Central University for Tibetan Studies celebrate the anniversaries of the founding fathers of the Kagyu Lineage and this year the Kagyu Welfare Society of the Central University for Tibetan Studies, in co-operation with Vajra Vidya Institute, has organised two days of special pujas and the reading of the “Rain of Wisdom” in the main shrine room at Vajra Vidya Institute.
A special shrine, topped by images of Marpa Lotsawa, Jetsun Milarepa, and Gampopa and decorated with butter sculptures, torma and other offerings, has been placed to the right of Gyalwang Karmapa’s throne. The first day’s ceremonies began with a procession of these sacred images around the perimeter of the monastery followed by general prayers and the Milarepa Saddhana “Blazing Wisdom”. The Rain of Wisdom is a text containing the Vajra Songs of the Kagyü Gurus. These songs are the direct personal voices of the lineage holders, sharing their experiences of the path, practice, and realization, assembled in a collection first compiled by Mikyö Dorje, the Eighth Karmapa.
Tea Party in the Garden
Gyalwang Karmapa delighted everybody by attending the afternoon tea party organized by the Kagyu Relief and Protection Committee of the Central University of Tibetan Studies as part of the celebrations. The tea party was held in a specially erected tent on the lawns in front of the Vajra Vidya Monastery.
