Day One: Vows, Auspiciousness, and Rain

The auspicious First Kagyu Mönlam in North America began with a flurry of activity as Rinpoches and monastics took their seats in colorful robes and prepared themselves for the first day of prayers.

When the Very Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche entered the room to the blare of gyaling horns, the crowd of yellow-robed monks and laypersons stood in spine-tingling silence as Rinpoche first bowed and then knelt down in the center of the assembly to take the Sojong Vows in the presence of the giant golden image of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Afterward, Thrangu Rinpoche mounted his throne and gave the Sojong vows to all assembled, repeating a ritual descended from the time of the Buddha himself.

These vows, not to kill, not to take what is not given, not to lie, not to sleep on high beds or wear jewelry and perfume, not to sing and dance, not to eat after the noon meal, and to give up intoxicants and sexual activity for the period of one day, are said to increase the power of prayers said after they are taken. These vows will be taken by the hundreds of participants each day as part of the sangha-melding event that will bring together Kagyu masters and students from around North America.

Organizers say there are nine Rinpoches representing more than 10 dharma centers in attendance. They include Thrangu Rinpoche, who is leading the prayers, as well as Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, Bardor Tulku RInpoche, Lama Norlha Rinpoche, Tulku Wangchen Rinpoche, Pora Rinpoche, Tulku Pasang Rinpoche, Tsewang Rinpoche. Assisting them in the prayers are about 100 ordained sangha, and close to 200 laypersons in the assembly.

At the top of the row against the wall across from Thrangu Rinpoche, sitting peacefully on a small throne, is the red-robed figure of Jetsunma Ngodup Paldzom, sister of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje. She had come to the United States to attend a conference earlier in the summer, and stayed to attend the first Kagyu Mönlam in North America.

Following the taking of Sojong Vows, the assembly, led by Umdze Sonam Paljor from Rumtek Monastery assisted by Lama Tashi Dhondup of Karma Tekchen Zabsal Ling in Toronto, recited from the Kagyu Mönlam Prayer Book sections of prayers selected for the event by His Holiness himself. Portions of the Twenty-Branch Mönlam and the entire King of Aspiration Prayers filled the morning, which was accented by a teaching (appropriately given during the seven-branch mönlam’s teaching section) by Thrangu Rinpoche.

“This is a time of great development in the world, “ Rinpoche said, “and a time when Dharma has spread throughout the world… but it also is a time of many disasters in the world … harm [coming to beings] from water, fire, earthquake, weapons, and warfare… We might wonder, ‘what can we do to help?’

“…by reciting prayers to the Three Jewels, we of the yellow-robed ordained sangha and the white-robed lay sangha can bring benefit [to the world]…this is what we can do.”

Evoking the image of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya (site of the first modern Kagyu Mönlam), Thrangu Rinpoche said participants at KTD were following an auspicious tradition that would benefit not just their own practice, but the entire world.
Then Thrangu Rinpoche spoke of the deeds of the Karmapas as his main teaching. Today he spoke of the activities of Dusum Khyenpa, the First Karmapa, and Karma Pakshi, the Second Karmapa.

Dusum Khyenpa, who perfected the practices of Kagyu forefathers Naropa, Marpa, and Milarepa, lived to a ripe old age, and was able, in his 70s, to establish the three seats of the Karmapas in Tibet – one seat each for the Body, Speech, and Mind of awakening.

Karma Pakshi was known for his miracles, which were crucial in taming the war-making activities of the Mongolian emperor of old. Karma Pakshi performed miracles for the emperor, such as sitting in meditation and “straightening” a crooked Buddha statue by moving his own body to mimic the bend of the statue and then remove its bend. With these, Karma Pakshi gained the faith of the emperor and protected many beings from harm.

After the delicious organic vegetarian lunch cooked by Chih-Ping Fan and her crew of 10 assistants, the afternoon session began with a brief pre-recorded speech by His Holiness Karmapa. In his remarks, His Holiness said that the making of aspirations is “indispensible” in our dharma practice because when we attain Buddhahood, we will have the power to carry out all the aspirations we made when we were practitioners. He encouraged us to practice well, and said he hoped he would see us very soon.

Following this, the assembly recited the King of Aspirations seven times and then a number of other prayers, including a Green Tara Praise. Amid the recitation of the prayer “Joy and Comfort for Beings,” where the line reads,

“I pray that beings’ joy be increased by beautiful clouds flashing

with garlands of lightning in the sky...”

The sky opened up with rain.

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Photo credits: Stephanie Colvey, Robert Hanson-Sturm, Sarile Sanders.

Writing: Lama Kathy Wesley