The 2009 Kagyu Monlam in Nepal

March 7-10, 2009, report by Lama Karma Chodrak, photos taken by Karma Norbu

The 2009 Kagyu Monlam in Nepal was hosted in Swayambuth by Benchen Monastery. Benchen Monastery is the main seat of H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche in Nepal. Through the organization of Kagyu Dedon Lhentsho, the Kagyu Committee of Nepal, this has been the tenth time the Kagyu Monlam was hosted in Nepal.
 
Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche presided over the monlam this year along with several other rinpoches. In total, about one thousand four hundred of the ordained sangha, including Khenpos, Vajramasters, monks and nuns were present at the monlam pujas.
 
In previous years, The Kagyu Monlam in Nepal had usually only been performed for three days; However, this year the monlam pujas were performed for four days, between March 7th and 10th of 2009.
 
The extra day for this year was sponsored by Lama Karma Chodrak. The usual schedule of Kagyu Monlam in Nepal is that the participants make many different kinds of aspiration prayers. During the first two days the Prayers for Excellent Conduct are primarily made. On the third day, the dohas of the Gurus of the Kagyu Golden Rosary, all the way from Tilopa to the Sixteenth Karmapa, were sung for whole day long.
 
This year, on the first day, the participants performed one hundred thousand tsok offerings of Vajrasattva. These were made with the intention to remove any obstacles to HH the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje during this, his year of obstacles, and for the swift return of Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche.
 
The 2009 Kagyu Monlam in Nepal has been very well organized and so I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and all others who are involved with the working teams.