As one of the major events of the upcoming 31st Kagyu Monlam Chenmo prayer gathering, on 10 January 2014 the Gyalwang Karmapa will lead a historic performance of the Guru Chöwang Tse Chu lama dance in Bodhgaya.
The day-long event heralds the revival of the unique Tsurphu tradition of the dance, and will be performed for the first time in India under the Gyalwang Karmapa’s direct guidance.
The Gyalwang Karmapa will personally dance during the event, adorned in full costume, while other luminaries to join him on stage include Kyabje Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Kyabje Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and numerous other Kagyu lineage tulkus.
And, in another historic first, nuns from five Kagyu nunneries will also take part in the lama dance, allowing female dancers for the first time to perform the female roles such as Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal. The nuns will join monks from four monasteries of the Tsurluk tradition, including Rumtek, Palchen Choling, Mirik, and Benchen.
The lama dance centers around the sacred biography of Guru Rinpoche, in a profound ritual discovered by the great treasure revealer Guru Chöwang. Preparations have been underway for a full year to create the elaborate masks and costumes that form an essential part of its performance.
The purpose of this particular lama dance is to ward off outer and inner obstacles, and it is said to have a powerful effect on all who witness it.
The dance will come at the culmination of a special Guru Rinpoche puja, the Garchen Tse Chu, taking place from January 6-10, and is followed immediately by Kagyu Monlam prayers running from January 11-16, both of which will be presided over by the Gyalwang Karmapa.
Gyalwang Karmapa’s Winter Schedule
December 2013 – February 2014, Bodhgaya
The following is the detailed schedule of Gyalwang Karmapa’s activities during his annual winter sojourn in Bodhgaya.
His main public activities taking place during this period include:
- 17th Kagyu Gunchö Winter Dharma Teachings & Debates for Kagyu Shedras (Dec 3, 2013 – Jan 1, 2014);
- Pre-Monlam Teachings (Jan 3-5, 2014);
- Special Monlam Program: Garchen Tse Chu (Jan 6-10, 2014);
- 31st Kagyu Monlam Chenmo (Jan 11-15, 2014);
- Marme Monlam (Jan 16, 2014);
- 1st Ārya Kshema Winter Dharma Gathering for Kagyu Nuns (Jan 20 – Feb 2, 2014);
- Losar New Year Celebration (according to the Tsurluk calendar) (Jan 31, 2014).
Several of the other activities listed below are intended primarily for monks and nuns.
Many of the public activities will be broadcast via live webcast. Full webcast details will be announced closer to the time of the activities.
Updates and changes to the schedule will be announced on this page – please check back regularly.
17th Kagyu Gunchö Winter Dharma Teachings & Debates for Kagyu Shedras
December 3, 2013 – January 1, 2014
Gyalwang Karmapa will preside over the annual Winter Gathering for Kagyu monks. For further details please see here.
31st Kagyu Monlam
January 3 – 16, 2014
| Date | Activity | Details | Location |
| Jan 3-5, 2014 | Pre-Monlam Teaching: The Torch of Certainty.
Refuge and Vajrasattva Chapters. |
Jan 3-4
Session I: 8.00-10.30am Session II: 2.00-4.30pm
Jan 5 8.00-10.00am Empowerment for Jatsön Nyingpo’s Konchok Chidu ritual & explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according to Ju Mipham’s commentary. |
Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 6-10, 2014 | Special Monlam Program: Garchen Tse Chu | Jan 6
Session I: 8.00-10.00am (Guru Rinpoche Empowerment: Chöwang Lama Sangdü) Session II: 2.00-4.30pm (Seat Assignment for Sangha)
Jan 7-9 Ritual: The Mind Practice of Guru Rinpoche: The Eight Chapters of Lama Sangdü & Ritual of the Dharma Protector Shinkyong
Session I: 6.00-8.30am Session II: 9.00-11.30am Session III: 1.30-3.30pm Session IV: 4.00-6.30pm
Jan 10 Tse Chu Lama Dance & completion of the puja
Session I: 2.00-3.30am (Ritual) Session II: 4.00-5.30am (Ritual) Session III: 7.00am-4.00pm (Lama Dancing) Session IV: 5.00-6.30pm (Concluding Ritual) |
Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 11-15, 2014 | 31st Kagyu Monlam Chenmo | Jan 11 – Day 1
Session I: 6.00-8.30am (Mahayana Sojong, Twenty-Branch Monlam) Session II: 9.00-11.00am (Teaching on Eight Verses of Mind Training) Session III: 1.30-3.00pm (King of Aspirations, Maitreya’s Aspiration, Aspiration from the Bodhicaryavatara, Sukhavati Prayer) Session IV: 3.30-5.00pm Twenty-Branch Monlam |
Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 12 – Day 2
Session I: 6.00-8.30am (Mahayana Sojong, Twenty-Branch Monlam) Session II: 9.00-11.00am (Teaching on Eight Verses of Mind Training) Session III: 1.30-3.00pm (Removal of Obstacles: Prayers to Tara and Saraswati) Session IV 3.30-5.00pm: Twenty-Branch Monlam |
Monlam Pavilion | ||
| Jan 13 – Day 3
Session I: 6.00-8.00am (Mahayana Sojong; Medicine Buddha) 8.00am Kangyur Procession (at Mahabodhi Temple) Session II: 8.30-11.00am (Reading the Kangyur) Session III: 1.30-3.00pm (Prayers for the Well-Being of Tibet) Session IV: 3.30-5.00pm (Twenty-Branch Monlam) |
Monlam Pavilion | ||
| Jan 14 – Day 4
Session I: 6.00-8.30am (Mahayana Sojong; Twenty-Branch Monlam) Session II: 9.00am (Alms Procession) Session III: 1.30-3.00pm (Akshobhya Ritual) Session IV: 3.30-5.00pm (Twenty-Branch Monlam) 5.00pm Akshobhya Fire Puja |
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| Jan 15 – Day 5
3.30-5.00am (Fifteenth-Day Sojong, for ordained sangha only) Session I: 6.00-8.30am (Mahayana Sojong, Twenty-Branch Monlam, Ritual of the Sixteen Arhats) Session II: 9.00-11.00am (Lama Chöpa: Offerings to the Gurus) Session III: 1.30-2.30pm (Lama Chöpa: Offerings to the Gurus) Session IV: 3.00-5.00pm (Sponsor Appreciation; Special Address) |
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| Jan 16, 2014 | Marme Monlam | 7.00pm | Monlam Pavilion |
1st Ārya Kshema Winter Dharma Gathering for Kagyu Nuns
January 20 – February 2, 2014
Gyalwang Karmapa will preside over the first annual Winter Gathering for Kagyu nuns. For further details please see here.
| Date | Activity | Details | Location |
| Jan 20, 2014 | Opening Ceremony
|
Teaching: Gampopa’s The Ornament of Liberation. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 21-28, 2014 | Debates (Collected Topics) | Daily schedule for nuns to be advised. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 29, 2014 | Day Off | ||
| Jan 30, 2014 | A Special Ritual for the Nuns’ Dharma to Flourish | Details to be advised. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
| Jan 31, 2014 | Chöd Ritual: A String of Jewels | Details to be advised. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
| Feb 1, 2014 | Ritual of the Sixteen Arhats and Tara | Details to be advised. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
| Feb 2, 2014 | Closing Ceremony | Details to be advised. | Tergar Monastery / Monlam Pavilion |
Tsurphu Losar (New Year) Celebration – Year of the Wood Horse
Date January 31, 2014 (following the Tsurphu tradition Calendar)
Full details of Gyalwang Karmapa’s Losar activities to be held in Bodhgaya will be announced.
Schedule last updated: 10 December 2013.
