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Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Centre
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Kagyu Monlam 2009, Bodhgaya
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Arriving in BodhgayaOn 31st December 2008, 28 Samye Dzong London pilgrims gathered together at Heathrow airport, all warmly welcomed by Lama Zangmo, Ani Samten, Tashi, Bernie and friends. Giving over to our spiritual inclinations, on this New Year’s Eve, we appreciated the world’s firework celebrations from the sky! Arriving in Delhi, we were bombarded by the noise, smells, colour, poverty, dirt and the lively chaos of Delhi streets. We watched with intrepidation, as tuk tuk and rickshaw drivers dodged their way across waves of traffic coming in all directions. Delhi train station in the evening was as much a place for homeless people, as travellers. In the foyers of the station they slept side by side, just with a blanket and none of the comforts we are so used to in the West. |
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Our train journey to Gaya was delayed by 14 hours, turning it into a 27 hour epic through a fog that was crossing that part of Northern India. But we were happy on our journey, with nothing to do, no where to go. It was a chance to relax and take in the Indian landscape, be together and eat the dal, rice, vegetable curry and chapatti served by the Indian buffet waiters that went up and down the train serving food.
Arriving at Gaya station, we were met by Meera and Mr Sharma who were to take good care of us during our time in Bodhgaya. We were housed at Rams Guest House and nearby Bodhgaya Guest House, quite close to Maya Bodi Temple. The rooms were basic, quiet and we had warm water and fantastic bucket baths! We were also given one light, cosy, communal space which gave rise to a constant flow of tea parties, usually helped along by Amy.
26th Kagyu Monlam prayers for world peace and the environment
So to give you a bit of history, the Monlam gathering is a prayer festival held traditionally during the first lunar month. In 1983, Kalu Rinpoche held a Monlam in Bodhgaya planting the seed for holding the Kagyu Monlam in India. In 2004, the Gyalwang Karmapa took over responsibility for the Monlam at the Mayabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya.
In his outstanding dharma activity, his Holiness has shown extraordinary attention to very aspect of the proceedings from the compilation of a new prayer text, the dress and conduct of the sangha, the shrine tormas, the Monlam logo etc... meeting all the needs of today’s international Buddhist community. There are even clearly designated seating areas for everyone, from the Rinpoches, the Gelongmas, the Getsuns, the Translators, the Western Sangha to the Friends of the Kagyu Monlam (us) and Lay Yogis etc.
It is hard to put into words the magnificence, the wonder and joy of such an event. Imagine practicing under the bodhi tree where the Buddha became enlightened, with his Holiness the Karmapa, the precious lineage holders and numerous fellow practitioners from around the world. Well we were right there, fully part of it, praying with open hearts and having all the benefits magnified because of the power of group prayer. It was truly beautiful. It felt like being on retreat, you were in a different state of mind, ordinary concerns vanished, the idea of time, days and weeks meaningless. You felt protected, like you’d taken refuge in something much bigger than yourself.
Every morning at dawn for eight days we had the opportunity to take Mahayana Sojong Vows, which meant observing eight precepts for 24 hours until the next morning at dawn. The hardest part for most of us was not eating any food from noon until sunrise! Kindly, many monks offered us chai and Tibetan bread at breakfast when we were really ready for food, and there was always the Om café or Mayahana hotel for a full breakfast. The vows were followed by the Sanskrit prayers, Refuge and Bodhictitta and the Twenty Branch Prayer of the Monlam. As each day dawned, the haziness lifted, shining light and clarity on the Mahabodhi temple and everyone present.
On the first day of the Monlam His Holiness the Karmapa explained the significance of the six decorative tormas of the 26th Monlam. They represented Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa on the left of the shrine, and Sakya, Ningma and Galupa on the right side. He explained that there is no basic difference between the lineages – they are interwoven and have strong samaya relations. They are all buddha’s activity. All true Buddhist teachings. He said we need to have a broad view of our connections with lamas from all the schools.
Using our radios to pick up the English, often translated by Ringu Tulku, we received many precious teachings from His Holiness the Karmapa. On the fourth day His Holiness emphasised that we have to see clearly the real negativity of the mind poisons. He said that samaya, good conduct and practicing the dharma is working with our kleshas. There is nothing else we have to do, other than overcome them. He said you allow the mind poisons to take over it will bring suffering to yourself and others. When the mind poisons arrive we feel really bad, as if its something dirty. If someone insults me, I get angry and become aggressive. But we’re not practicing Kung Fu, we’re practicing patience! This way, instead of becoming a burden, dharma becomes an ornament. When you see the negativity of the mind poisons then whatever you do is helpful. If someone has good aspiration but doesn’t see the mind poisons as really negative, everything they do will become mixed with the mind poisons and be not helpful but harmful, like good food mixed with poison. If we work for the benefit of other beings, then we have to be very careful not to become mixed with our own jealousy, envy and pride. If we want to be compassionate, we must try to see people to be just like us, like our own mother, strongly connected to us. We have to feel their feelings.
Some Highlights of the Monlam
On the sixth day we received the White Tara empowerment from the Karmapa. He said that it shouldn’t just be seen for this life and that students should try to change their motivation: to receive this in order to help all sentient beings. As the empowerment was given a white butterfly hovered and rested on the top of Tashi’s head. It was a beautiful, vivid, joyful moment. It reminds me of how the Karmapa said that his individual attention is with each and every one of us.
On the second to last day, there was a procession and reading of the Kangyur by the gelong and gelongma. Amongst them was Lama Zangmo and Lama Tsondru, carrying two of the 103 suttras. Seeing our Lamas carrying the texts made us feel very happy, representing the dharma holders in our lineage. On the last day of the Kagyu Sangha Monlam Chenmo, gelongs and gelongmas prepared for the Alms Procession. This procession of fully ordained monastics from the Mahabodhi Stupa to the Deer Park was instituted by His Holiness Karmapa five years ago to follow the traditional alms walk that the monastics of some Buddhist traditions make in their daily lives to receive their food.
On the last evening of the full moon, we celebrated the end of Monlam festival with dedication prayers and a Mar-me (butter lamp) offering. Nowadays the butter lamps are replaced with battery-operated lamps for environmental reasons. It was very magical and a perfect end to the Monlam festivities.
Audiences with Lineage Holders
During the Monlam we were extremely fortunate to have audiences with many of the top lineage holders, including the young Jamgon Kontrul, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche. This was especially thanks to Meera who set these up for us all to benefit and make the connections.
And to top it off as many as 115 of Akong Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe’s students from London, Spain, Samye Ling and South Africa gathered together for an impressive group audience with the Karmapa. Lama Jinpa asked whether His Holiness would be coming to the West. The Karmapa said that it needed a lot of preparation, as there are many countries in Europe. He said you’d need to be able to give me good nourishment, and that it would work both ways!
Rokpa Soup Kitchen
| Stirred by the real stark suffering and poverty seen in Bodhgaya and inspired by Akong Rinpoche’s Buddha activity, in 2007 and 2008 Samye Ling volunteers organised food to be distributed to people at the back of the Mahayana hotel. Because of the commitment from people like Vin Harris and other people wishing to help the poor in Bodhgaya, the 26th Monlam became the start of an officially sponsored Rokpa soup kitchen. |  |
| In a very auspicious beginning, Rokpa’s new project coincided with the Karmapa sister’s wish to do something beneficial during His Holiness’ difficult year. The Karmapa’s sister organised the tent, cooks and ground, and Rokpa provided the money and volunteers to run a soup kitchen everyday around noon at the Kalachakra grounds. Dal, Rice and vegetables were served to around 800 men, women and children daily. In addition, one morning, Rokpa provided cooked breakfast for 450 people, and gave each one a bag of dal, rice, an orange, a shawl and some rupees. In this wonderful occasion each person arrived at the back of the hotel and walked out of the front door with dignity, carrying food and a full stomach. |  |
There is one picture that is imprinted on my mind for life, that of a man with polio or rickets being quietly and lovingly spoon-fed by a monk. It was the most touching and humbling scene you could ever imagine.
Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Centre
33 Manor Place, London, SE17 3BD
Tel: 020-7708 8969
Email: manorplace@samye.org
Web-site: www.samye.org/london