Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya,
Morning Session,
12 February 2025
Of the four heart-sons of the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, only two remain; they are the revered and much-loved Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche, and Gyalwa’i Gyaltsab Drung Goshir Rinpoche. They are the sacred ornaments of the Practice Lineage’s teachings and it is essential that, as the protectors of the teachings and beings, they have long lives.
The Gyalwang Karmapa determined that the morning of February 12th would be the most auspicious date and time to perform these Long Life offerings, after the Monlam programme proper had concluded, and that it should be the Three Roots Combined practice. The long-life practice of the Three Roots Combined is one of the rituals associated particularly with the Karma Kamtsang. Although it can be traced back to Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, the practice has been revived and revised by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, who first gave the empowerment for the practice at the Kagyu Monlam in 2016.
The Monlam Pavillion was crowded with devotees—monks, nuns and laypeople —as Drung Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche and a portrait of Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche entered, heralded by gyalins, and preceded by incense bearers, notably, in ascending order of seniority, Khenchen Lodrö Dönyo Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche and Zurmang Rinpoche, wearing their ceremonial Gampopa hats. Gyaltsab Rinpoche took his place on the throne beside a second throne bearing Tai Situ Rinpoche’s portrait. As part of the ceremony, there was a simultaneous, extensive mandala offering to both Rinpoches.
