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5.15 am and the dark streets of this small town, little
more than a village, were alive with hundreds of people making their way through
the pre-dawn gloom to the Mahabodhi Temple. Monks and nuns and laypeople, both
Tibetans and foreigners, thronged through the massive red Torii gates. Designed
by Gyalwang Karmapa and engineered by Choekyi Gyatso, they were built by eight
carpenters brought in specially, and took three months to complete. Then, for
two whole days and nights, the carpenters worked non-stop to erect them in place
at the entrance to the Mahabodhi site. These massive gates represent sanctuary.
Inside, the grounds of this ancient site had been
transformed by a hundred thousand fairy lights, hanging from the trees and walls
surrounding the sanctuary. The multitude of small stupas had been garlanded with
yellow and orange marigolds and small water pots containing marigold heads had
been placed along the tops of the walls. Beneath the spreading branches of the
bodhi tree was an array of magnificent butter sculptures, and behind the
Gyalwang Karmapa’s throne was a glorious mandala of the palace of Akshobhya; all
the beings contained within are bodhisattvas and the palace is created from
precious stones.
By 5.30am most of the sangha, about 6000 in all, were
seated and waiting, huddled in their cloaks against the morning cold. Gelongs
(fully ordained monks) sat at the front and gelongmas (fully ordained nuns) sat
behind them Then came the getsuls (novice monks) and behind them the getsulmas
(novice nuns). Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Khenchen Yongzin Thrangu Rinpoche
were seated to left and right of the Gyalwang Karmapa’s throne. Approximately
2500 laypeople sat in designated areas, and on the walls and grass banks
surrounding the main temple.
The sound of a police siren heralded the arrival of Gyalwang Karmapa and the
sangha rose, donned their yellow robes and stood waiting under the Bodhi Tree as
His Holiness entered the site to the ceremonial sound of gyalings. He
circumambulated the Stupa and took his place at the head of the assembly, a
powerful presence, unshakeable and grounded in stability.
He immediately presided over the 24-hour Sojong vows, a practice which
accumulates merit and removes negative karma, so that the ceremony could be
finished before the sun rose. In the context of Sojong, he explained that the
important thing was to try to do positive deeds and to examine all our thoughts
and actions.
Then, following His Holiness’ new additions to the Monlam prayers, the assembly
chanted the refuge and bodhichitta prayers, the Heart Sutra and other verses
from the Sutras in Sanskrit. The ancient chants rose on the chilly morning air,
connecting all those there to the dawn of Buddhism.
Again, His Holiness gave a short commentary on Refuge and on Bodhichitta,
explaining the importance of pure motivation: the motivation in taking refuge
should extend beyond a wish for well-being in this life; it needed to be seen as
an aspiration for future lives, and should include the aspiration for liberation
from samsara and ultimate enlightenment. He advised people who couldn’t yet keep
the bodhisattva vows to make an aspiration to be able to take them and keep them
in the future.
His Holiness led the prayers from the Kagyu Monlam Prayer Book,
the Twenty-Branch Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, originally composed by the Seventh
Karmapa, Choedrak Gyatso, and had now re-formulated by the Seventeenth Karmapa,
according to the example of that earlier time, and reviving the tradition. After
the Three Daily Observances of Prostration, Reciting Sutras and Dedication,
the assembly chanted the assembly chanted Samantabhadra’s King of Aspiration
Prayer: the Aspiration for Noble Conduct, and Maitreya’s Aspiration, from
the Branch of Aspiration.
During the second morning session, Gyalwang Karmapa resumed his transmission of
The Life of Milarepa begun at the previous Monlam. The theme was
purification of negative deeds ─ Milarepa reached the point in his life when he
changed direction completely and was desperate to study the Dharma, like someone
who was very thirsty and longed for a glass of water.
His Holiness referred to the Buddhist allegory of the Buddha as the doctor,
ourselves as the patients, and the Dharma as the medicine. He emphasized that
this was the correct attitude for listening to Dharma teachings. Our motivation
should never be tainted by the eight worldly concerns.
The second session concluded, as it always does, with The Great Aspiration:
Monlam Chenmo, and Dedications for the Living and the Deceased. Roots of
virtue of the three times are dedicated so that they will not be lost or used
up. They are dedicated for the attainment of unsurpassable perfect enlightenment
for oneself and others, in the presence of His Holiness Gyalwang Karmapa as the
dedicator. These prayers were followed by the Dharani for the fulfillment of
aspiration prayers.
Then the gelongs and gelongmas filed out to board buses to take them to Tergar
Monastery where they were served lunch by the Chinese Buddhist community.
In the third session, after lunch, the Gyalwang Karmapa performed the Ritual
of Vajra-Akshobhya, the Buddha with whom the Karmapa lineage holds a special
connection. This ritual powerfully purifies negative karma in the world, hence
promoting the security and well-being of all sentient beings, harmony and peace,
and the preservation of the world environment.
A short fourth session, which included long-life prayers for His Holiness the
Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa and other important Kagyu lamas,
and a prayer for the reincarnation of Bokar Rinpoche, concluded the day’s
prayers, along with the Dharma Blaze Aspiration for the flourishing of the
Dharma, and Protector Prayers.
Finally, as His Holiness stood to leave the Bodhi Tree, the entire assembly
slowly chanted the Descent of Sacred Auspiciousness that Transforms One,
composed by the Gyalwang Karmapa himself:
Auspicious blessings blaze and ornament the world
Shining upon the vast kingdom
At the north of the Land of Snows
Lineage of Dharma practice flourishes
May blessings and auspiciousness fill the world
May happiness and joy increase in the world.
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