New Initiatives in preparation for 2007 Monlam

CONCERNING THE CONDUCT OF MONKS AND NUNS

In 2004 the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa issued new instructions on conduct to members of the Kagyu Sangha attending the Kagyu Monlam. In March 2007, there was a meeting at Gyuto of representatives from different monasteries and nunneries and the Gyalwang Karmapa personally instructed them in the new codes. They were then asked to teach these back in their own monasteries and nunneries.

There are three main points:

• Maintaining ethical discipline is the prime purpose and practice of monks and nuns. All monks and nuns should understand the reasons behind ethical discipline and the benefits of maintaining it, and then should train themselves in it.
• These instructions apply not only during the time of the Kagyu Monlam but to all Kagyu monks and nuns at all times, and should be a part of daily life in monasteries and nunneries.
• Alongside training in ethical discipline, monks and nuns also need to train in concentration and wisdom.

A team composed of senior monks, who are Khenpo Gawang, Khenpo Kalsang Nyima, Khenpo Karma Tenzing, Umze Chung Chung, Shastri Karma Norbu, from Rumtek and Sherab Ling monasteries, and headed by Ven Mingyur Rinpoche, as the representative of the Gyalwang Karmapa, has toured all the major and minor monasteries and nunneries of the Karma Kagyu, in order to check the conduct of the monks and nuns. Sometimes the team gave special instruction on how the monks and nuns should conduct themselves.

The six major areas covered were: the correct way to prostrate; the correct way to wear the robes; the correct way to eat; the correct way to walk; the correct way to sit; the correct way to chant.

THE INTRODUCTION OF SANSKRIT PRAYERS

This year, in accordance with the wishes of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, many of the most important common Buddhist prayers are to be recited in the original Sanskrit form. The original Mahayana teachings were in Sanskrit so this brings us closer to that tradition and forms a continuity between past and present. Furthermore, it encourages us to study the original texts in Sanskrit.

In preparation for Kagyu Monlam, Gyalwang Karmapa has taught the Sanskrit version of the Refuge Prayer, the Recitation of the Ten Appellations of the Buddha, the Bodhichitta Prayer, the Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels, the Heart Sutra and other short prayers to all the monks attending the Kagyu Goncho, which is currently being held at Tergar Monastery in Budhgaya.