The Great Kagyu Monlam of 2008 took place at Bodhgaya from 1st December to 7th December.
The purpose of Kagyu Monlam is doing aspiration prayers for the benefit of others. It was told by Nagarjuna that if aspiration prayers are done together with great bodhisattvas, the resulting prayer is so powerful that it can avert natural disasters and can remove all kinds of bad karma.
Reciting aspiration prayers is also tremendously important in order to give the full meaning of this precious human body. That’s why to be in Bodhgaya and to make these prayers is a great opportunity, as planting the seed of enlightenment in one’s mind.
The tradition of these great Monlam was established in Tibet in the eighth century. During the following centuries these gatherings grew more and more popular. In the 13th century the 3rd Karmapa introduced the monlam to the Kagyu Lineage. The first Kagyu Monlam in exile with the 17th Karmapa took place in 1996, in Bodhgaya and was conducted by the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Today, representatives of the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism are making prayers in Bodhgaya.
Article by H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa about Kagyu Monlam read here.
Pictures from Kagyu Monlam 2008:
Beru Khyentse Rinpoche’s monastery
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Read the rest of Pictures from Kagyu Monlam 2008 (130 words)
This article Pictures from Kagyu Monlam 2008 was originally posted at Tibetan Incense Blog.
© Leo Golan for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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Post tags: Buddhism, Karmapa, Pictures