On September 12, 2008, from 10am to 12:40pm, His Holiness gave a speech in which he offered spiritual advice to a gathering of over 6,000 monastics and laypersons in front of Mahey Gompa. In his remarks, His Holiness praised the area of Ladakh as a place where the Buddhist teachings had long ago taken root and had not diminished to this day. He discussed the essence of Buddhadharma as relinquishing negative actions, performing positive actions, and taming one’s mind and encouraged all monastics and laypersons to practice the dharma, which is endowed with tremendous potential for benefit. After giving blessings and gifts to the members of the assembled audience, His Holiness departed to his quarters for rest.
Mahey Gompa was founded in 1970 by the previous Drupon Dechen Rinpoche as directed by the previous Gyalwang Karmapa.
As there are very few residential areas close to the monastery, many laypeople traveled distances ranging from twenty kilometres to 100 kilometres in order to receive His Holiness’s teachings and empowerments. To facilitate transportation, the government of Ladakh provided ten buses.
At 2pm, the locals offered His Holiness a show of song and dance. At 4:30pm, His Holiness granted an audience and photo session to the eight primary local benefactors of Mahey Gompa. At 5:15pm, His Holiness visited the home of a local dignitary named Pentok and said prayers at his house. Afteward, he retired to his quarters at the monastery.
Report by Khenpo Chokdup. Translated by Tyler Dewar.
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His Holiness in Ladakh, September 12, 2008 (Photographer: Karma Norbu)
