17th December, 2010
Report by Gelongma Rinchen Khandro
Photos taken by Karma Lekcho
After the two morning sessions, buses are provided to take
all the Bhikshunis and Bhikshus to Tergar Shrine Room for a
silent lunch. Today when going towards the Shrine Room the
sound of sirens could be heard approaching the monastery, an
indication His Holiness Karmapa may have found time in his
busy schedule to join the Sangha for lunch, his first time
for this Kagyu Monlam.
His Holiness entered through the side door and walked around
the Shrine Room inspecting the neatly lined rows of bowls
filled with food which young monks, nuns and lay volunteers
had prepared beforehand. His Holiness did one
circumambulation around the Shrine room walking briskly
behind one of the security guards who seemed to have
problems keeping up with Karmapa's quick and lively pace.
Then His Holiness sat on his beautifully carved wooden chair
and watched as the volunteers pour hot water in the plastic
bowls for the Bhikshunis and Bhikshus.
His Holiness, having just come from a visit to the Medical
Camp, did not have his chogu with him. It was brought to him
by an attendant. His Holiness draped the folded chogu
[yellow prayer outer robe] over his left shoulder as he
waited for the remaining Bhikshus to enter the Shrine Room ,
don their chogu , and be seated on their dingwa
. [ a special rectangular maroon cloth carried by Sangha to
sit or lie on].
From a distance, in the dim light His Holiness could be seen
in his trademark stance of shifting from one foot to another
, while he was waiting for people to enter. Finally,
everyone had poured in and sat down.
The umze began to chant the offering prayers. His Holiness
went to the front door and watched as the Sangha prayed.
Then he spoke with some of the volunteers as the Sangha were
handed their bowls so they could begin their meal. Before
eating everyone took some of the food, such as the rice, and
made what is called a chambu [ traditional Tibetan
food offering to the hungry ghosts].
This tradition was prescribed by the Buddha Sakyamuni
himself because at the time when the Buddha walked on this
earth there was a hungry spirit who had no food and so she
would eat her children. The Buddha told her not to do that
and ordered the Sangha to offer food to the hungry spirits
at every meal. The chambu is left on the plate until
the end of the meal when prayers are said to accompany the
offering to the hungry spirits.
His Holiness paced back and forth and
watched as the Sangha silently partook of their meal.
Volunteers went back and forth offering seconds to those who
wanted more. On the very first day the umze [chantmaster]
had told everyone to be sure to eat enough as the next meal
would only occur the following morning.
At noontime at the sound of the wooden blocks everyone put
down their bowls and the prayer for offering food to the
hungry ghosts was recited as volunteers came by and picked
up the chambu.
His Holiness standing near the volunteers, motioned to them
with his hands in prayer posture, thanking them for their
kindness in preparing and serving the meal.
After the chambu offering prayer we recited the Heart Sutra
with the umze whose voice resonated over the intercom. As
everyone got up, removed their chogus and began to exit, His
Holiness sat down to have his lunch. Then everyone boarded
the buses which took them back to the stupa for the
afternoon session of the monlam.
