The Mar Ngok summer teachings concluded with the Gyalwang Karmapa leading the monastic communities in a Shakyamuni puja. The recitations included the Karmapa’s newly composed “Praise of Shakyamuni Buddha,” based on Mātṛceṭa’s “Hymn to the Buddha in 150 Verses” (Śatapañcāśatka), an extensive and complex work. The sadhana for the main puja also included new writing by the Karmapa, and one new melody composed by the Karmapa which was used during the Mandala Offering and the Guru Yoga (later a shorter sadhana of this puja was provided by the Karmapa for daily use). As was the Karmapa’s specific intention in compiling this, the easily understandable praise retained the poetic beauty of the original and brought an atmosphere of timelessness to the puja.
The monastic community made beautiful offerings following the requirements outlined by the Karmapa, some of these appeared on camera: various tormas, large and small shalzes, auspicious substances, the seven symbols of royalty, the seven auspicious symbols, water for bathing, offerings of fruit, butter lamps, incense, and more. Near the completion of the puja, as the Karmapa recited the closing prayers, the nunneries and monasteries made mandala offerings, and as he said the dedication, participants could be seen placing long katas on the throne.
Khenpo Gyaltsen Phuntsok of Palpung Sherabling, representative of all the listeners to the teachings, made a speech of gratitude paying homage to the Gyalwang Karmapa, Orgyen Drodul Trinley Dorje. He summarized the Karmapa’s qualities as a teacher: his great activity and resolve as a great friend of sentient beings; his great activity for the sake of the environment. Through the Karmapa’s great activity and resolve, he was bringing peace and harmony among nations, races, and all peoples.
Khenpo Gyaltsen Phuntsok then expressed appreciation on behalf of the monastic community, he reviewed how the Karmapa revived the rules of conduct in the Kagyu Monlam, giving many teachings himself as well as inviting masters of the different lineages to teach. By doing this, the Karmapa has sustained the teachings by preserving, publishing, and distributing teachings that had been in danger of being lost. He has gathered rare teachings that had been scattered, including the words of the Buddha, and established the treatises on the Adarsha website. This has enabled Dharma facilities to improve in line with modern technology.
Khenpo remarked that, although the Karmapa was not able to be with them in the noble land of India, all the seasonal teachings still had been successfully presented over the internet. He summarized the Mar Ngok summer teachings so far: the history of India and of early Buddhism, how Buddhism developed over time, and how listeners were being prepared to understand secret mantra through Indian history based on contemporary scholarship to enhance greater faith and devotion. These summer teachings gave a deeper understanding of the history of Shakyamuni Buddha, how the teachings spread very broadly, and how the Buddha became a teacher known for his wisdom and his incomparable vast activity.
In conclusion, Khenpo Gyaltsen Phuntsok said, “… What the Buddha transmitted, translator Marpa brought to Tibet and spread them. He gave the teachings and transmissions to Ngok Chöku Dorje. Looking at this, His Holiness established the Mar Ngok summer teachings. It is the greatest kindness there could be for those of us in the practice lineage.”
He thanked the Karmapa on behalf of the Karma Kamtsang three times, praying for the Karmapa’s good health, and for him not to be affected by any adversity. He expressed the hope that he would meet the Karmapa in person and concluded his speech with “Sarva Mangalam.”
