The He-Vajra Puja was performed from 27th June to 3rd July at Rumtek Monastery. The seven days of puja were performed my monks that included the construction of a sand mandala which later was dismantled by Vajra Master at the end of the puja, on 3rd June. Before this, on 2nd June, monks performed the Agni Puja in the main court yard.
The Cho Puja will begin from 8th June from five days. Following, on 18th July the Yerney (Summer Retreat) will begin for 45 days.
On June 26th, the Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, celebrated the 23rd birthday of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa with an offering of Sang Sol (incense offering) by the lay community at 6.30 a.m. This was followed by an offering of long life prayers to His Holiness and tea-rice ceremony led by His Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche.
On this occasion, the Dharma Chakra embarked on a program of planting trees and saplings within the 75 acres of the monastery property and in Martam, East Sikkim, where the construction of the retreat center is now nearing its completion. This green mission of the monastery, which will continue for the next few days, was initiated by the talks expounded by His Holiness, during the 25th Anniversary of the Kagyu Monlam at Bodh Gaya, about the need to preserve and give back to the environment. A bodhi tree blessed by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche was planted above the main monastery complex by Venerable Drupon Dechen Rinpoche and Mr. Karma Gelek Chungyalpa, Deputy General Secretary, as a starter of the green mission.
Tree-planting was followed by a lunch hosted by the Tsurphu Labrang for the entire Dharma Chakra Centre community.
The monastery did not offer any other program for His Holiness the Karmapa’s birthday celebration this year, keeping in mind the parinirvana of His Holiness the 11th Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche.
The Karmae Dharma Chakra School was established during the spring of 1984, with the objective of providing western and Buddhist educational facilities to children of the lay community of the Dharma Chakra Centre. Over the years the school has provided education to children from many destitute families from the neighbouring villages of the Dharma Chakra Centre in addition to children from the Monastery Lay community. Due to limited space of the existing school complex, it has now been relocated to the Handicraft Centre of the Dharma Chakra Centre which had been lying vacant for many years.
In June 2007 the Tsurphu Labrang commenced the renovation of the Handicraft Centre to accommodate the School and the project was completed in January 2008. The new academic session for the School commenced from the 11th of February 2008 in the new location with a total enrollment of 78 students which includes 20 students from the monastic community. In order to ensure proper education and functioning of the school the Tsurphu labrang has also hired a full time Principal and well qualified teachers to supplement the existing staff and to provide an education curriculum according to the syllabus of the State Govt. Education Department. At present the School is providing education upto grade IV and which will be increased over the next three years to grade VIII.
The academic session began in February 2008, and the formal Opening Celebration of the School was held on the 18th of June 2008 i.e the auspicious day of Saga Dawa. His Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche graced the opening function of the School and bestowed the Manjushree Lung to the School children and the Teachers and thereafter consecrated the school complex. The School Emblem as designed by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, was also formally opened by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche. The program concluded with a brief cultural show by the School Children followed by a talk from the School Principal, Mr. Tenzing Gyatso who summarized the functioning of the school and the plans for the future.
The Karmae Dharma Chakra School project is a Charitable activity where education, books, uniform and other facilities are provided free of cost by the Tsurphu Labrang. This has been the wish and aspiration of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, i.e to provide education to the children of people who do not have the financial means to do so. For the future the children will also be provided with one free meal a day in addition to providing other amenities in the form of a School Library, computers, toys and game facilities.
Being a Charitable activity the Tsurphu Labrang would appreciate help and assistance in any form for the adequate sustenance of the school. Please write to Tsurphu@sify.com or kargyal@gmail.com
Karma Shri Nalanda Institute celebrated the 25th Anniversary (Silver Jubilee)
June 15 and 16 saw a grand celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Karma Shri Nalanda Institute founded by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa. This Institute is the principal monastic college of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa based in the great seat of Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, East Sikkim. His Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche, the present Director of the Institute graced the function along with Mr. D.N. Thakarpa, the Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Sikkim Government, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Gathered for the Silver Jubilee celebration were many other official dignitaries of Sikkim; alumni of the Institute; representatives of Karma Kagyu monasteries in India, Nepal, and Bhutan; the Institute's well-wishers; monks and lay people, a total of about 7000 participants.
The program included reading out of messages from the Governor and Chief Minister of Sikkim, from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa and other eminent Rinpoches. It also included conferring the Acharya degree on the graduating students in the morning and cultural shows in afternoon on the first day. The next day’s program included the bestowing of traditional Ka-Ramjam certificate on the graduating students in the morning and exposition, debate, and discourse by the senior students in the afternoon.
The Institute was founded by His Holiness Sixteenth Karmapa in 1981 and was further developed and expanded by His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche from 1984 to 1987. The Institute has been recognized by the State Government of Sikkim and is affiliated with Sampurnanand Sanskrit University of Varanasi. Currently there is one khenpo in charge of the Institute overall, five assistant khenpos, and two lecturers along with more than 180 students in the Institute.
The Great Accomplishment Assembly of Profound Seven Vajrakila at Rumtek Shedrup Chökorling, the Seat of the Glorious Karmapa
for the continued well-being of our great guide, His Holiness Tendzin Gyatso, the crown ornament of all beings in existence and peace, the lord of refuge, the supreme victor, Avalokiteshvara, the fourteenth Dalai Lama; and of all beings and the doctrine; in particular to remove obstacles to the three secrets and activity of the crown jewel of the Dakpo Kagyü, His Holiness the glorious seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa, the supreme Ogyen Drodül Trinley Dorje; and especially to enable him to soon place the auspicious shape of his feet at Rumtek Shedrup Chökorling, his great seat in Sikkim, India, and set forth the perfect feast of his four-fold activity like an ocean in summer for all beings and the doctrine, there will be convened this year at Rumtek, in the great temple which is an ornament of Jambudvipa, the Great Accomplishment Assembly of Profound Seven Vajrakila,. It will be performed by the noble sangha of tulkus, khenpos, drupöns, and lamas who have completed the requisitepractices. It will take place from the first to the eleventh days of the fifth month of Tsurphu Calendar, June 4 to June 14 of the international calendar.
The Karmapa, whose name is as famous as those of the sun and moon, was the first tulku ever to be recognized in Tibet. He was the buddha of the past called 'Lion of Fragrant Light'. He is the bodhisattva Avalokita. He will be the future buddha, the sixth of this kalpa, called 'Lion'. He embodies the activity of all victors and their children, and therefore wears the black crown. From the time of the first Gyalwa Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, he has, life after life, displayed inconceivable virtuous activity. In particular, through the great black pills that bestow six-fold liberation and the amrita that brings liberation through taste, he has bestowed both Dharma and protection on many beings, ripening and freeing them. This aspect of his activity continues at Rumtek, to the great benefit of beings here. This ceremony, performed according to the instructions of the accomplished Kagyü vidyadharas, is based on a treasure concealed by the Lake-born Mahaguru for the benefit of beings in the future. It contains the essence of his yidam practice. From the treasure text:
Especially the seven profound cycles and their branches.
Are the essence of my heart, concealed for future benefit. And elsewhere in the same text:
The condensed essence of the Vidyottama
Of a hundred thousand stanzas, formatted for activity. This Very Secret Single Kila of Mind, the essence of all practices of Vajrakila, the deity of activity, was discovered as a profound treasure by the great treasure revealer Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and has spread throughout many traditions. The fourteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Tekchok Dorje, instituted its yearly observance during the first phase of the month Saga, the fourth month. *
Programme of the 2008 Dorje Phurba Drubchen
Wednesday, 4 June, morning
The annual Dorje Phurba (Vajrakila) Puja will begin with a Sa-Chog Puja (Earth Consecration Puja) and Tsa Chham Trak Thung Rolpa (Sacred Ritual Dance).
Saturday, 7 June - Wednesday, 11 June, approximately 7 p.m.
For one-and-one-half hour every evening, there will be a Nyu-Ley Trel chham (sacred ritual lama dances) with full costumes inside the Main Prayer Hall of the monastery to pacify obstacles.
Thursday, 12 June, 11:00 a.m., and in the evening
The Kya Chham, with full costumes (but without masks) will be performed in the courtyard of the monastery. In the evening (also in the courtyard), the Nyu-Ley Trel Chham, with costumes and masks, will be performed to chase away obstacles of the Dharma.
Friday, 13 June, 3:00 a.m.
After the completion of the Dojre Phurba sadhana Puja and the branch puja to get the blessings of its siddhi, an Initiation and blessing of the precious religious objects of body, speech, and mind of Dorje Phurba will be given.
Friday, 13 June, 6.00 a.m.
The Dorje Phurba Chams (Sacred Ritual Lama Dance) will begin with a Sadul Chham for the whole day in the main courtyard.
Saturday, 14 June
The Dorje Phurba puja concludes. The day also includes a religious procession to deposit sand from the dismantled sand mandala into the nearby river, and auspicious butter lamps prayers.
The Kalachakra Puja has started from today, on April 13. The bumi puja was performed early in the morning. Later monks constructed the sand mandala. The puja will be completed on the full-moon, on April 20th.
The Dorje Phakmo (Vajra Yogini) puja started on March 30th. The monks performed the bumi puja after constructing the sand mandala. This puja will last for six days. Then on the April 3rd, the aagni (Fire) puja will be also perform.
On 5th & 6th April Green Tara Mandala puja will be performed in the main shrine hall.
Prayers were performed in Dharma Chakra Center, Rumtek for the peace and harmony for the present situation in Tibet. His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Thinley Dorje personally advice to perform the Tara prayers and Guru Rinpoche Prayers, and special prayers for the deceased ones. All the monks and lay devotees gathered here in the monastery and chanted the prayers. This will last for three days.
The Dolkar (white tara) and Tseringma (female deities) puja started in the main shrine hall ar Rumtek. The puja will last for seven days then on the last day a white tara fire puja will be perform in the main courtyard of the monastery.
02/15/08
On February 15th, in the main shrine hall, the monks started performing tse-drub theb-she kha-jor (long-life Buddha puja). This puja is especially performed for His Holiness's long life and to flourish his dharma activities throughout the world. The puja will last for seven days.
02/14/08
Losar celebrations concluded with sang offering and putting up prayers flags at the main hill top of the monastery where the local deities' temple is located. Monks performed the sang puja while the lay community made the sang offering to the local deities.
Tashi delek to all the viewers! May this New Year bring you lots of happiness and prosperity. According to the Tsurphu lunar calendar Losar was celebrated at Dharma Charka Center, Rumtek, on February 8th. Early in the morning, Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche, Deputy General Secretary Mr. Karma Gelek Chungyalpa, and senior staff members of Tsurphu Labrang gathered in the main audience room of His Holiness the Karmapa where they offered katas and received blessing from His Holiness' throne.
Later all staff members and guests were assembled in the main shrine hall and offered khatas to His Holiness' main golden throne. The zimgak guided the seating arrangement for each individual. The chant master led the refuge prayer and the auspicious prayers for His Holiness' long-life, the mandala offering etc. Ceremonial sweet rice and Tibetan butter tea were served to all the participants. Following the prayers, the monks and lay community began offering khatas to His Holiness' throne and to Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche. After the program in the main shrine room ended, next came a visit the Golden Stupa where the 16th Karmapa's relics are resting. Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche and the monks offered khatas and performed the guru yoga of the Sixteenth Karmapa that had been composed by the Sixteenth Karmapa himself.
A grand lunch was served by Tsurphu Labrang to all the gathering on this auspicious day and the Losar celebration ended with offering khatas, wishing good health and prosperity to the General Secretary by all Rumtek members.
The grand Mahakala puja concluded with the young Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche bestowing the tse-wang (long-life empowerment) this morning. Around five hundred devotees gathered here today to receive his blessing. In the early morning the tsok-offering, receiving siddhi, and sang puja were performed by the monks. The vajra master dismantled the sand mandala at the end of the puja.
Monks performed sacred ritual dances with masks and costumes for the whole day. Different dances were performed by young and senior monks. At the end of the day the torma was burnt in the fire to destroy all the hindrances and mara that create obstacles. Later in the evening, headed by vajra master, some senior monks performed the wrathful fire puja in the main court yard.
The Actual Mahakala Puja started today, January 31st. The puja will go on till the morning of February 7th.
01/29/08
In the chilly morning headed by the Vajra Master some ten monks performed the bumi puja (ground breaking) of the grand Mahakala Rituals at Rumtek. After the puja monks constructed the sand mandalala.
01/20/08
The annual Mahakala puja will start at Dharma Chakra Center, Rumtek, on the 29th of January. It will last through February 7th, 2008. In Rumtek at the end of every year, according to Tibetan calendar, a grand Mahakala puja is performed by both monastery and shedra monks together in the main monastery shrine hall for the flourishing of Buddhadharma, to remove all the negative actions and obstacles, for long life of all great teachers of all traditions. The puja is especially dedicated to our guru, the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Thinley Dorje: his long life and the flourishing of his dharma activities throughout the world without any hindrances, his swift return to his main seat at Dharma Charka Center, Rumtek. It is also dedicated to peace and happiness in the new year. On the 6th of February, the monks will perform the sacred ritual lama dances with masks and traditional costumes in the court yard of the main monastery. Mahakala (Yeshi Gonpo/Gonpo Berchen) is the main dharma protector of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
PROGRAM
01.29.08
Bumi puja (ground breaking) and construction of sand mandala
01.29.08
Ven Drupon Dechen Rinpoche will perform the long-life empowerment for the public.
All monks in Rumtek began morning White
Tara and Vajrayogini puja, and afternoon Tseringma puja
that will go on until March 27th. After this series
is over, a Vajrayogini puja with sand mandala will be
done for five days and a two-day Green Tara puja will
start.
Every year, the Tse-drub thab-she kha-jor
puja (Buddha Amita-Ayu long-life practice) is performed
by the monks for the long life of His Holiness the Gyalwa
Karmapa. Similarly this year the puja has begun and
it will last for seven days.
Today Rumtek celebrated She-dak Losar
(dharma protectors and local deities) according to the
Tsurphu tradition. In the early morning the monks performed
sang puja in the main shrine hall while lay communities
made offerings of sang on the monastery's roof and on
the hilltop where She-dak tenkhar (home for the dharma
protectors and local deities) is located. Prayer flags
were put up on the hilltop for the long life of His
Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, for the flourishing of
his Dharma activities throughout the world, for his
swift return to his main seat in Rumtek, and general
prayers to increase prosperity and well-being for all
sentient beings. Every Losar prayers and pujas are held
for the deities, and old prayer flags are replaced.
The flags lend a festive air to the entire hill. After
the sang offering lay communities performed the traditional
Tibetan group dance as an auspicious sign to mark the
occasion.
The Dharma Chakra Center wishes a Very
Happy Losar to All! We pray that this New Year brings
a lot of happiness and wholesome activities.
Early morning In His Holiness the Karmapa’s
living room, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche and the
senior staff members of Tsurphu Labrang made the Losar
khata offering to His Holiness’ throne. Later
in the main shrine hall a khata offering to His Holiness’
vajra throne was made during the main ceremony of Losar.
Headed by His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche and Ven. Drubpon
Dechen Rinpoche, the senior staff members of Tsurphu
Labrang performed the Losar prayer followed by offering
of butter tea and ceremonial rice to all gathered in
the shrine hall. Later His Eminence and others the relic
golden stupa of visited the 16th Karmapa, made an offering,
perform the guru yoga of the 16th Karmapa and long-life
prayers fo17th Karmapa. Special lunch was offered by
the Labrang to all gathered for the event. Later in
the afternoon the Rumtek Lhamo (Tibetan opera) offered
a performance as part of the celebration. Also that
afternoon, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche proceeded
to Ralang Pal Chen Choling Monastery, South Sikkim,
to his own monastery for the Losar Celebration.
On the early morning of February 17th,
the grand annual Mahakala puja was concluded by receiving
siddhi and dismantling of sand mandala. Later that day,
His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche performed the Red Hat
ceremony and bestowed the Long-Life Empowerment through
Buddha Amitabha.
After the cham was over, monks headed by the Vajra
Master performed the fire puja in the main corridor.
The Dharma Chakra Center wishes a Very Happy
Losar to All! We pray that this New Year brings
a lot of happiness and wholesome activities.
On February 15th &16th the monks
performed the sacred dance at the Rumtek monastery main
court yard. A procession of monks headed the ceremony
of bringing the mahakala torma to the main court yard
in the early morning. Afterward a whole day main cham
(sacred dance) began. The Giant Statue of Mahakala,
Mahakali, and Vajra Sadu were brought outside of the
temple during the cham.
Headed by His
Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche, today the
main Mahakala Puja began at Rumtek and it will
go on till the of 16th of February. The annual Cham
will be performed by the monks from Rumtek at the monastery's
main court yard on Feb. 16th.
Early morning group of senior monks
headed by Vajra Master performed the Bumi puja for the
annual Mahakala puja. After the puja monks constructed
the sand mandala. The main puja will began from
Feb. 9th onwards till the Feb. 17th. On Feb. 16th monks
will perform the Mahakala Cham (sacred lama dance) for
the whole day.
According to the Karma Kagyu tradition,
Mahakala (Yeshi Gonpo/Gonpo Berchen) is the one of the
main dharma protectors of our lineage. In Rumtek every
end of the year according to the Tibetan calendar, Grand
Mahakala puja is performed by both monastery and shedra
monks together in the main monastery shrine hall for
the flourishing of Buddhadharma, to remove all the negative
actions and obstacles, for the long-life of our guru,
the 17th
Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and
to bring peace and happiness in the coming new year.
As usual, this year also His
Eminence Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche will be leading
the puja. On the15th and 16th of February monks will
be performing Sacred Lama Dance. Read
program details.
Beginning on the 16th of December,
as every year before the winter solstice, a week long
Four-Arm Mahakala puja is being held in Rumtek. Tordok
will be held at the end of the week practice, exactly
at the time of the winter solstice.
Soon also most senior lamas are going to Bodhgaya
to join the annual Kagyu Monlam.
As requested by Rumtek communities and
following the instruction received from His
Holiness, the Dorje Dro-lo (wrathful form
of Guru Padmasambhawa among the eight manifestations)
puja has started at Ka-she Dung-gye shrine hall. The
Chi-rim puja has been performed mainly to remove all
obstacles of entire Rumtek sangha and lay communities
as well as for His Holiness’ swift return to His
Seat at Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek.
As requested by Rumtek, the puja is lead by Ven.
Ripa Bha-yo Rinpoche with the assembly of monks from
the monastery. It will last for seven days.
At the main shrine of the monastery the monks started
to perform Kun-rik puja which will last for five days,
and will be followed by two days of Mitruk-pa puja.
As Pema Benza and Shi-tro (peaceful &
wrathful deities) puja are performed every alternate
year, accordingly this year Shi-tor puja has started
at Rumtek from 8th Oct and it will last till five days.
From Oct 24th "Rigpe Dorje Lama Chopa"
(16th
Karmapa's Guru Yoga) puja will be starting
for one week at Rumtek. The last day (Oct 30th) will mark
the 25th parinirvana day of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa,
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981). This year we will be
performing the Lama Chopa composed by His
Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche. The puja will be performed
for a whole day with a break inbetween. On the last day
night butter lamp offerings will be made outside the monastery
and puja will be perform in the main court yard.
The Chagdor Tum-chen (Vajra Pani) puja
has started on Oct. 14th and it will last for five days
until Oct. 19th. This year, it is the second time this
particular puja is being performed and will be performed
yearly from now on.
Right after his arrival on Indian soil, His
Holiness Karmapa's first dharma activity
was to revive the 13 tantras of Marpa Lotsawa (1012-1097).
He called upon a gathering of all Rinpoches and senior
lamas from each monastery and held a dharma conference
at Vajra Vidhaya Institute in Varanasi. In this gathering
His Holiness distributed the 13 tantras to each monastery
and requested to perform the puja at their own monasteries
yearly. In this connection, even though "Chagdor
Tum-chen" was not among the 13 tantras, but His Holiness
specially ordered Rumtek Sangha to perform the "Chagdor
Tum-chen" puja yearly. In this regards last year
Very
Venerable Tenga Rinpoche was specially invited to
Rumtek to give teachings and to bestow the empowerment
and oral transmission of "Chagdor Tum-chen"
to the sangha at Rumtek.
The week-long Gyawa Gyamtso (Red Chenrizik)
puja was performed at Rumtek from Oct 1st with a construction
of the sand mandala. Fire puja was performed in the monastery
courtyard on the Oct 6th in the afternoon. Oct 7th in
the morning the puja was concluded and the dismantled
sand mandala was taken down with the ceremonial procession
to the near by stream and poured into the water.
The Eye Screening
camps being sponsored by the Dharma Chakra Centre in collaboration
with the Jamgong Kongtrul Eye Centre of Kalimpong commenced
from the 1st of September, 2006. The first camp was held
in Rangpo East Sikkim and the Second camp was held in
Rabongla, South Sikkim from 9am to 5 pm.These two camps
screened more than 900 people and identified more than
110 cases requiring cataract eye operations which has
been scheduled for the 23rd and 24th of September in Manipal
Hospital. The Micro Surgical Workshop for the patients
from all the Eye Camps in Sikkim will be conducted by
Dr. Sadpan Ruit and his team of doctors. The eye screening
camps will continue to cover Jorethang in South Sikkim,
Gayzing in West Sikkim, Mangan in North Sikkim and Gangtok
in East Sikkim throughout September. Read
more.
Chotrimpa (Discipline Master) Gyaltsen
Sonam and Omze (Chant Master) Woser Jungne return back
form Gyuto after receiving the instructions and teaching
from His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. His Holiness called
two senior lamas from entire Kagyu Monasteries participating
for the Annual Kagyu Monlam and gave a special instructions
and training on Bikshu Vows and discipline during the
Monlam. The training for the monks at Rumtek is going
on. Chotrimpa and Omzela are taking charge of training
everyday. The training contents how to maintain the discipline
and order of wearing the robes, walking, sitting, eating
and chanting etc.
On the 28th of August, 2006 the new Office
premises of the Karmapa’s Labrang (Tsurphu Labrang)
was formally inaugurated by His
Eminence the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche in the presence
of Deputy General Secretary Karma Gelek Chungyalpa, Ven.
Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche and all the Officials of the Labrang,
the Sangha and Lay Community of the Dharma Chakra Centre.
The formal ceremony included prayers for consecration
and concluded with the offering of ceremonial scarves
on the podium erected for this purpose. The new Office
of the Labrang was established to cater to the need of
the increased number of Office staff as well as providing
a centralized work place for all the organizations within
the Dharma Chakra Centre.
8/09/06
PHOTO
GALLERY
The annual Yerney (summer retreat,
is a time when monastics get together and deepen their
intellectual and experiential understanding of monasticism)
began at Rumtek. This year there were 38 Gelong (full
ordained) and 140 Ge-tsul (novice
monks) who participated from both monastery and Shedra.
The yernay will last for forty five days.
Early morning the puja started with the So-jong (bimonthly
purification ceremony) and later performed the morning
prayers. Afterward, monks made the "kora"
(circulation of monastery) for three times which concluded
the morning section. During the yernay monks will be
having their onetime meal in the main shrine hall in
the "lhung-ze" alms bowl.
PHOTO
GALLER
Later in the evening at 5:00pm monks
chanted the Monlam Na-nga (five different aspiration
prayers).
Monks received the Yerney vows from the Yer-dhak (retreat
incharge) the next day.
During Yerney, monks from the monastery will perform
the Cho-cho (supplication to the lineage masters) puja
for one week and Kagyu Gur-tso (Vajra Songs of the Kagyu
Gurus) for one week. Otherwise, there will be morning
prayers for one and half hour and evening Monlam prayers
at 5:00pm for one and half hour.
7/20/06
The "Cho" puja was started on
the 20th of July and will last 5 days.
Today at the conclusion of the Drungdrub,
100 times "tsok-gya" offering was made by monks
performing the "Pakshi Lhadrub" (2nd Karmapa's
Guru Yoga) puja. Later the tsok was distributed to all
Sangha, monks and lays. In the afternoon as there were
many requests during the Drungdrub,
special "Jang-chok" (puja for the decease)
was performed through "Khorwa Dongdrub" (Chenrizig)
sadhana for the deceased persons.
July14th,
Today the month long "Kar-Kyen Drugdrub" was
completed by monks performing the "Sang" puja
while the lay communities went up the hill to put up
"lung-ta" (Wind horse) flag and make the "sang"
offering for His Holiness long-life and his swift return
to his seat at Rumtek. Later, inside the main shrine
hall Lama Lodro Chojor made the mandala offering followed
by Drungdrub Association Members, monks and lay people
offering "khatas" to His Holiness's Vajra
Throne. Ceremonial Rice and tea were served to the gathering
and the ceremony was concluded by monks chanting His
Holiness long-life aspirations. We feel
privileged to have participated in these special prayers
and the involvement of all monks, and lay people from
Sikkim and neighboring West Bengal resulted in the achievement
of the "Karkhyen" mantra recitation in excess
of 500 million in less than one month. Click
for details of the mantra recitations.
In the afternoon, the fire puja of
"Khor-lo Dem-chok" (Chakrasambvara) was performed
as the ongoing weeklong puja at Rumtek. The puja was
performed at the corridor of the main monastery. Lama
Sonam Wangchuk made the offerings to the fire.
July11th,
Today is the last day of the "khor-lo Dem-chok"
puja. The puja started in the morning as usual around
5:00 am and later the "Dhag-juk" was performed
by monks wearing the "Rig-nga". Puja was concluded
by dismantling the created sand mandala, which will
be put into the river during the "Gyalwa Gyamtso"
puja in the future.
On the occasion of the 2550th Buddha
Jayanti and also commemorating the 21st Birthday of
the
17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje,
the Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek is undertaking a Free
Eye Camp Mission. This project will cover the East District
of Sikkim first commencing with Khamdong, Sang, Martam,
Rumtek and Ranipool Blocks.
The eye screening and medical check
up of patients from these areas was held on Rumtek,
Dharma Chakra Centre. Among the 268 patients screened
20 cases have been identified as needing operations.
Those patients for the operations will be done next
month at Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Center Kalimpong, West
Bengal.
During the same day group of monks from
monastery and Shedra went to Gangtok Government Hospital
to Donate Blood. Among the monks 18 were declared fit
for the donation and 18 units of blood were donated to
the Hospital. Also a team from the Central Referral Hospital,
Tadong, had visited Rumtek monastery today to screen prospective
blood donors. 68 monks were subsequently selected as standby
donor to be called in case of such emergencies at the
Hospital.
The 21st Birthday of His
Holiness Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, the
17th Gyalwa Karmapa, was celebrated at his seat in Rumtek
Dharma Chakra Center, Sikkim India on the 26th June 2006
(Western Calendar).
The Sangha of the Dharma Chakra Centre
- Pal Karmae Sangha Dhuche is undertaking the activity
of liberating captive fish (tse-thar) for the continued
well being and Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
and the
17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
The Pal Karmae Sangha Dhuche
will be liberating the fish on the 24th of June, 2006.
Anyone who wishes to participate and contribute to this
auspicious activity may please contact the Office of the
Pal Karmae Sangha Dhuche at the Dharma Chakra Centre,
Rumtek. The Telephone Nos are : 252254/252329/226591.
The community of the Dharma Chakra Centre is also undertaking
a blood donation drive on the 27th of June, 2006.
His
Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche lead the tse-drub sang-dhu
(long-life buddha) puja for His Holiness' long life. The
puja was also attended by the Ven Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche,
the Vajra master of Rumtek Monastery and retreat lamas
at ka-she dung-
gye (four pillars-eight beams)
shrine hall._The puja will go on for one week, the last
day will be on 26th June HH Birthday. 26th early morning
Long Life prayers and long life auspicious sign will be
offered to His Holiness’ throne in the main shrine
hall.
His
Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche performed the Red Crown
Ceremony and also gave the Karma Pakshi (2nd Karmapa)
empowerment to all the monks and lay sagha gathered
at Rumtek. The sangha and devotees also recited the
Karmapa Khyenno mantra for the 1 billion accumulation.
read more above.
May 28th The
annual Dorje Phurba (Vajrakila) Puja begun early morning
at 3:00 am with a Sa-Chog Puja (Earth Consecration Puja)
and Tsa Chham Trak Thung Rolpa.The Vajra Kilaya Drubchen
was led by His
Eminence
Gyaltsab
Rinpoche and the who presided over the monks from
Shedra and the monastery.
A procession of monks went around the main monastery to
put up the Gya-tho (Guardians
Kings of the four direction) in the four direction,
which marks the border of the Drubchen. The procession
also went outside the courtyard to bury the Se-nen to
remove all the obstacle for the Drubchen. Coming and
passing through the sacred fire and water, as well as
throwing wood-dust into the sacred fire are symbolic
of removing all obstacles and purifying oneself.
In the afternoon the monks made the drawing of the Mandala
and a short puja was performed.
On May 31st the main puja began early morning around 4:00am
and lasted until 10:00pm. Every evening, Nyu-Ley Trel
chham (sacred ritual lama -dances) were performed inside
the Main Prayer Hall of the monastery . These one and
a half-hour dances are practiced to pacify obstacles.
On june 3rd, during a break between pujas, the main flag
pole was erected by the Sangha and lay community.
On june 5th, The Kya Chham, with full costumes
(but without masks) was performed in the courtyard
of the monastery. In the evening (also in the courtyard),
the Nyu-Ley Trel Chham, with costumes and masks,
was performed to chase away obstacles of the Dharma.
On june 6th at 3:00 a.m. after the completion of the
Dorje Phurba sadhana Puja and the branch puja to get
the blessings of its siddhi, an Initiation and blessing
of the precious religious objects of body, speech, and
mind of Dorje Phurba, was given by His Eminence Gyaltsab
Rinpoche, Drubpon Dechen Rinpoche and other lamas to
all the sangha and lay devotees gathered here on this
day. Also Dutse Choe-min (mendrup) was distributed to
the gathering. Around 7:00am The Dorje Phurba Chhams
was begun with a Sadul Chham (Earth Consecration Puja)
. Late afternoon the torma burning procession went outside
the compound and accordingly it was burn into the fire.
June 7th was, the last day, the Dorje Phurba puja. The
Vajra master dismantled the sand mandala according to
the text and put it into a vase. The religious procession
went to nearby river to deposit the sand from the dismantled
mandala. As the last section the auspicious butter lamp
prayers were done inside the main shrine and it concluded
the Dorje Phurba puja 2006.
Read
the full puja announcement, which briefly explains the
practices.
May 6th -The Kalachakra puja began on May 6that Rumtek
Monastery. The puja will go on till 13th of May (full
moon day). This puja was preceded by preparations of
sand mandala The actual Kalachakra puja will be performed
for five days.
On May 6th the main prayer
flag pole at Rumtek was been lied down by the monks and
the lay communities for change and putting up a new prayers
flag for the long-life and success for His
Holiness. Before laying down there was a
rainbow shown on top of the flag pole. It will be erected
again later according to the auspicious day in the calendar.
July,
2005
His
Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche led the entire Dharma Chakra
Centre community—ordained sangha and lay practitioners—in
reciting 10,000,000 Tamdrin (Hayagriva) mantras. This was
done at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to remove
obstacles to the swift return of His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen
Trinley Dorje to his main seat at Rumtek. Monks from the three
Karma Kagyu monasteries in Sikkim also participated in the
puja, which began July 23. His Eminence offered the Hayagriva
Empowerment on July 22 for all the participants. The recitations
concluded with a jin sig (fire puja). A special puja was performed
on July 27 at Dharma Chakra Centre for Tenzin
Namgyal, General Secretary to His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen
Trinley Dorje, on the forty-ninth day of the General Secretary’s
passing. Throughout his life Tenzin Namgyal, who died on June
8, served His Holiness with untiring great devotion.
Monks from the monastery
and Karma Shri Nalanda Institute began their observance of
Yarnay, the forty-five-day rainy season retreat, on July 21.
This year, in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness Karmapa,
the retreat will conform to the strict code of conduct he
instituted for the 2004 and all subsequent Kagyu Monlams.
In addition to this year’s special Tamdrin mantra recitation
(see above), practices the monks will perform during Yarnay
include the Rain of Wisdom and Chos Chod pujas.
The annual, five-day Cho puja was performed by the
Dharma Chakra Centre monks’ community from July 2-6,
followed by the annual, seven-day Hevajra puja on July 10.
The monks constructed a sand mandala in accordance with this
practice.
Untitled Document
This site is dedicated
to the flourishing of the dharma activity of His Holiness the Seventeenth
Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, for the benefit of all beings as limitless
as space.
