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Traditionally,
on the third day of Losar the Gyalwang Karmapa meets with his
Labrang, monasteries and other staff in “The Great Row
Ceremony”..
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..so called
because everyone sits in rows before him.
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All the staff
line up outside the shrine room in their very best clothes to
greet the Gyalwang Karmapa, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and
Gyaltsap Rinpoche.
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Gyalwang Karmapa
wears a special brocade chuba over his robes and blue and white
boots. This costume is only worn at Losar.
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He holds a
khatag in his left hand, connecting him to his ‘simpon’ or Lord
Chamberlain.
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Tsurphu Labrang
lay staff form a row to the right of the Gyalwang Karmapa…behind
them sit rinpoches and members of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche’s and
Gyaltsap Rinpoche’s staff..
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Tsurphu Labrang
monks sit with Khenpos, umzes and chotrimpas of all the Karma
Kagyu monasteries on the left.
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A Losar offering
of donkey’s ears kabsey, fresh fruit, dried fruit and sweets
stands near Jamgon Kongtrul’s throne
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The Chanting
Masters from the Gutor before Losar offer prayers
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Jamgon Kongtrul
Rinpoche consecrates the amrit which is distributed to everyone
there.
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The ceremony
includes two rounds of Tibetan butter tea —Gyaltsap Rinpoche
watches his being poured…
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This year’s
ceremony included the presentation of long-service rewards to
those members of the Labrang who had served the 16th Karmapa
Rigpe Dorje..
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such as Soepon
Lodro Sherab is nearly 90 years old. He was an attendant of the
16th Gyalwang Karmapa at Tsurphu in Tibet, and escaped with him
to India in 1959. He still lives at Rumtek
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And Dala who was
a monk at Tsurphu. He also travelled to India with the 16th
Karmapa, and has been serving the 17th Karmapa as nyerpa.
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Simpon Lama
Paljor is in his seventies – he was also an attendant to the
16th Karmapa.
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Lama Phuntsok
travelled to the USA with the 16th Karmapa in 1976, and has also
served the 17th Karmapa in India.
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Gompo Tsering
joined the 16th Karmapa’s staff as the English secretary and
translator in 1980. He was the first English teacher at Sri
Nalanda Institute, Rumtek, and now serves the 17th Karmapa in
Dharamsala.
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Chog Ngodup
Tsering joined the 16th Karmapa’s staff in 1974 and worked as
one of his translators. He is still translating - these days for
the 17th Karmapa.
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Flanked by two
of his heart sons, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa gazes on…
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