About seven hundred Kagyu Monlam Members gathered together for
this special audience in the assembly hall at Tergar Monastery.
A soundtrack of Om Mani Padme Hum was playing in the
background to instil a mood of calm and meditation, however, it
was replaced by a softly chanted Karmapa Chenno, which
spread slowly across the hall, as people waited expectantly for
His Holiness to arrive. Shortly afterwards he appeared and took
his seat in a large ochre armchair placed centrally, below the
dais where his throne stands.
He tested the microphone playfully and pulled faces, making his
audience laugh, then he began speaking. First he wished
everybody tashi delegs. He explained that Lama Chodrak,
the Chief Executive of the Kagyu Monlam, had insisted that he
took a membership card, so he was also one of the Kagyu Monlam
Members. “However,” he joked, ”I didn’t make a financial
contribution, so I am probably the worst member.”
His Holiness described how the tradition of Kagyu Monlam was
established in Tibet during the time of the 7th and 8th
Gyalwang Karmapas about 500 years ago, and then revived in India
by Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche and Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche. He reminded
everyone of the debt of gratitude owed to these two Lamas, and
continued this theme by thanking Lama Karma Choedrak, Chief
Executive of Kagyu Monlam, for his continuing hard work over
many years to make Kagyu Monlam a success. Now, from those small
beginnings in India, the Kagyu Monlam had been transformed
gradually into a truly international gathering, fulfilling the
great aspiration of the 7th Gyalwang Karmapa Choedrak
Gyatso that people of all nationalities and languages might come
together, united in prayer. The scriptures say that it takes at
least three kalpas for an aspiration to reach fruition, but that
noble aspiration had come true within the amazingly short time
of five hundred years. His Holiness praised the force of virtue
generated by the Kagyu Monlam Members and described how they
were able to come together as one family, united by pure
motivation, within one mandala that encompasses space and all
sentient beings, under the blessings of the masters of the past,
because of that virtue.
He then elucidated the meaning of genuine aspiration. The
King of Aspiration Prayers: The Noble aspiration for Excellent
Conduct exemplifies the heart of the Monlam, said Gyalwang
Karmapa, quoting four lines:
As far as to the
ends of the blue sky,
As far as to the
end of sentient beings,
Until the end of
Karma and afflictions,
Thus far the ends
are of my aspirations.
Our aspirations also should be vast, infinite and limitless, he
explained. They were inspired by the buddhas and bodhisattvas of
the ten directions, and we joined forces with them that the
blessings may be pervasive.
He then presented a new publication: the text of the Medicine
Buddha Puja in Chinese, English and Tibetan. It was being
given to all those attending Kagyu Monlam in order to create
auspiciousness, so that everyone would stay in good health, free
of illnesses. This blessing extended beyond them to their
families and anyone connected with them.
In conclusion he berated himself for not being the perfect Kagyu
Monlam Member. Because of his many duties and responsibilities,
he was unable to participate as fully and as completely as he
would like. “Slowly, slowly I hope to catch up with you,” he
said. ”All of you from East and West with the force of your
pure intentions and virtuous activities,” he continued, “It is
my heartfelt wish to do what is beneficial for you and all
sentient beings.”
Everyone present then had chance to present a katag to His
Holiness, and received a photo of him, a blessing cord, and a
copy of the Medicine Buddha Puja text.
