Torch of True Meaning

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Session One Offering the Mandala: Extracting the Essence 12 February, 2016 -Monlam Pavillion, Bodhgaya, To open the Mandala offering practice, the Karmapa emphasized the essential meaning of the word 'mandala'. We say ‘mandala’ but it is a Sanskrit word not Tibetan, he explained. The word means ‘centre and edges’ or ‘centre and surroundings’, or ‘the primary and the edges’. The centre is the essence. The meaning of mandala is that we are extracting the essence. In the secret mantra it's said the essence is the natural fundamental wisdom. That's what we need to extract. Beginners need to accomplish it gradually... read more →

“Chig shes Kundrol” Initiations

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The Many Forms of Tara Day Two: The Initiations of ‘Knowing One Frees All’ Monlam Pavilion, Bodhgaya 21 December, 2014 At 5.30am His Holiness’ car left Tergar Monastery, its headlights cutting through the early morning fog, as he made his way to the Monlam Pavilion to begin the preparations for this morning’ s three empowerments. Two hours later, there was still a distinct chill in the air as monastics and laypeople, wrapped up warm in jackets, scarves and woollen hats, waited patiently to pass through  security control into  the pavilion. On the stage inside the pavilion, the ritual master put the... read more →

Celebrating World Environment Day

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5th June - Dharamsala, Norbulingkha Celebrating World Environment Day, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa and the Honorable Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament launched the 4th Khoryug Conference on Environmental Protection for Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The five-day conference will focus on biodiversity, climate change, and natural disaster preparedness, and is attended by over sixty representatives from forty-five monasteries from across the Himalayas and South Asia. The goals of the conference are to provide environmental education on biodiversity and climate change, and to train the monastic representatives to learn climate adaptation strategies and to develop disaster preparedness plans for their monasteries. The... read more →

The 29th Kagyu Monlam: Day Eight

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8 March, 2012 Bodhgaya Long Life Ceremony for the Two Lords of Refuge, Tai Situ Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche On March 8, the Gyalwang Karmapa and the sangha gathered to offer a long life ceremony celebrating two of his heart sons, the Twelfth Tai Situ Rinpoche and the Twelfth Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche. As the dawn begins to color the edge of the sky, a huge crowd has filled the Monlam Pavilion and a special excitement runs through the air. Today will be (more…)

The 29th Kagyu Monlam: Day One – Mahayana Sojong Vows

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29 1 March, 2012 Bodhgaya The sounds of auto rickshaws reverberated through Bodhgaya in the wee hours of March 1st, 2012 as monks, nuns and laypeople made their way to Tergar Monastery to attend the first day of the eight-day Kagyu Monlam prayer festival, and to receive Mahayana Sojong vows. Sojong vows taken for the benefit of all beings are called Mahayana sojong vows. The Tibetan word sojong is the equivalent of the Sanskrit uposatha. The reason why the vows taken in our tradition are called the Mahayana sojong vows is the unique motivation. Ordinary uposatha precepts are usually taken... read more →

His Holiness at the Great Kagyu Monlam Aspiration (Winter Tour 2007-08)

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On this page, a detailed summary of His Holiness's activities is provided. At this website, we are also providing extensive reports on the activity of HIs Holiness at The 25th Great Kagyu Monlam on other pages: His Holiness's Teachings at the 25th Great Kagyu Monlam Interview and Discussion with His Holiness about this year's Great Kagyu Monlam Aspiration Photo galleries of His Holiness's Annual Winter Tour Great Kagyu Monlam Aspiration, 24th December Mahabodhi Temple: The final day of the 25th International Kagyu Monlam began at 6.00am as the mist cleared and the sky lightened. Gyaltsab Rinpoche conferred the Sojong vows,... read more →