21 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya The tradition of almsgiving dates back to the beginnings of Buddhism, 2500 years ago. At that time monks and nuns were not allowed to keep or prepare food and were therefore completely dependent on whatever they were offered to eat by the local community.... read more →
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20 February, 2016 -All India Bikkhu Sangha and Shakya Muni College On the day before the Monlam officially started, the Gyalwang Karmapa made time in his busy schedule to visit the Akong Tulku Memorial Soup Kitchen—even taking a few minutes to help chop vegetables. The soup kitchen operates during the... read more →
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17 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavilion, Bodhgaya Every three years HH the 17th Karmapa offers a reward to those who have completed the 400,000 long ngondro or traditional foundation practices: refuge recitations and prostrations, the Vajrasattva 100 syllable mantra of purification, the Mandala offering of the universe and Guru Yoga. Each... read more →
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19 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavilion, Bodhgaya The Gyalwang Karmapa concluded the teachings for this 33rd Kagyu Monlam today, continuing his explanation of Geshe Potowa’s Long Soliloquy of Mind Training. In particular, the Karmapa spoke about how to incorporate the dharma into our beings, and how to examine and develop confidence... read more →
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18 February, 2016 -The Pavilion, Bodh Gaya, India Recapitulating the essential message of the previous days, the Gyalwang Karmapa began his talk emphasizing the importance of recalling impermanence and death. Doing so, he said, allows us not to be attached to the things of this life and mired in thoughts... read more →
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17 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya The tradition of the Dagpo Kagyu is the confluence of two great streams: the practice of Mahamudra from Milarepa and the Six Yogas of Naropa, and the mind training tradition received from Jowo Atisha and transmitted through the Kadampa masters. Both streams were united... read more →
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16 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya On the first day of the 33rd Kagyu Monlam, a long queue of white-clothed lay people led by lamas and rinpoches sponsored the mandala offering - heaps of red coral proffered on a burnished gold mandala plate. The assembly of monks in gold and... read more →
