September 24, 2010
It is said:
Those who observe the anniversary
Of the passing of their lamas and venerate them,
Will soon be born among their first circle
Of disciples, and become a guide for beings.
As this indicates, recollecting the glorious lama’s good qualities and activities of body, speech, and mind is the foundation of all the goodness there is in samsara and nirvana. For this reason, monasteries and dharma centers of the Karma Kagyu, the lineage of practice, are collaborating to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the birth, in Tresho, Kham, of the First Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa, the glorious crown jewel of the practice lineage. The celebration will open with two days of festivities at the sacred site of Bodhgaya, India, on December 8 and 9, 2010. An opening ceremony will be held on the morning of December 8, followed in the afternoon by a feast offering of the guru yoga of Düsum Khyenpa. In the morning of December 9, there will be a smoke offering ceremony, and in the afternoon, one hundred thousand Mahakala feast offerings.
Furthermore, for three days commencing on December 10, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa will grant public teachings on Atisha’s Lamp on the Path of Enlightenment to the gathering of sangha and laypeople. The Kagyu Monlam Chenmo will then be held for eight days beginning on December 15.
From the Karmapa 900 Organizing Committee
