The Kagyu Monlam is a major international prayer festival held annually in Bodhgaya, India, one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists worldwide. Thousands of people gather together in order to listen to Buddhist teachings and to pray for peace, harmony, well-being and happiness in the world.
The Kagyu Monlam is now also held annually in other countries all over the world on a smaller scale. This will be the second time it is held in the UK. The Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery, Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, and Drupon Khen Rinpoche Karma Lhabu will preside.
The Monlam will take place at Kagyu Samye Ling, beginning on the auspicious date of the anniversary of Lord Buddha's Birth on 10th of June and finishing on 17th of June 2019, the anniversary of Lord Buddha's Enlightenment and Parinirvana.
Drupon Khen Rinpoche has kindly agreed to make an extra visit to the UK specially to preside over the Monlam. He will give two daily sessions of teachings as well as presiding over all the prayer sessions.
Regarding the benefits of taking part in the Monlam His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, said:
"If we talk about the Kagyu Monlam in terms of the Kagyu lineage, although we may not directly see a great result from the Monlam, it has been quite a good achievement.
The ultimate result would be all sentient beings easily attaining the omniscient state of Buddhahood. You could call this the activity or the aim of this lineage. If we think in these terms, holding the Monlam is not something that reaches the ultimate result. However, I regard it as a big step toward world peace, harmony, and happiness, so for us to gather here is a great good fortune."
"We are reciting many of the words of the Buddha and prayers composed by the earlier masters. We should do this in a frame of mind that is unlike our ordinary mind. As much as possible, we should have the kindest and best of motivations.
Ordinarily we might feel some anger, pride, or jealousy. There is not much to do about this; ordinary individuals are unable to always be good, but it would be a mistake just to completely give up.
We need to give our virtuous, positive side more chances so that it will triumph and give our unvirtuous, negative side fewer chances so that it will be defeated. This is where we need to concentrate our forces. We have gathered here to do that. "
His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje, Kagyu Monlam Bodhgaya, India, December 21, 2007