2012 North American Kagyu Monlam
by Lama Lodu Rinpoche
The Monlam has been around from the beginning of Buddhism. The meaning of the word Monlam is 'Aspiration Prayer'. Before the Buddha became the Lord Sakkyamuni, he was an ordinary being, and through aspiration prayers he became a Bodhisattva, and then went on to become the Buddha. This is involved with the Aspiration Prayer, or Monlam, as anything you want to do, you first have to aspire to it. The aspiration leads to inspiration, which then leads to action. This action leads to fruition, the result; this is the true meaning of Monlam. In this Eon, the Lord Sakkyamuni came 2,500 years ago, attained enlightenment and then left behind the path which is followed by all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. These include the Eighty Mahasiddhas, Six Ornaments and Two Excellent Ones, the scholars and Mahasiddhas of India. The Monlam is a continuation of this prayer, leading from one state to another.
When Buddhism made its arrival in Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism followed in the footsteps of Indian scholars and panditas, who continually made prayers to get from one stage to the next. This tradition became especially strong in Tibet, where the Aspiration Prayer festival was invented in Lhasa and given the name Lhasa Monlam Chenmo, Great Festival of Aspiration Prayer. The Tibetan Monks and Nuns, Abbotts and Tulkus gathered together for the aspiration prayer. The Seventh Karmapa, Chodra Gyatso, also worked to make this Great Monlam festival an aspect of our Kagyu lineage.
During his lifetime, the Seventh Karmapa spent a great deal of time writing books and meditating, but did not have time to see people and personally give his blessings. Many people had a deep longing to see him and receive his blessings, so he made the Monlam festival once a year, for a week or a month. He established an altar filled with precious relics, statues and thankas and laid out huge offerings of butterlamps, jewels, gems and precious things. Then, he would personally preside over the Monlam festival, and in this way people could see him and receive his blessings. People would travel for a month or a year from as far away as India and China for this opportunity to see him. During the Monlam, he would give them teachings and administer the Eight Precept Vows and participate in the ceremony. He would take the vows early in the morning and then give the vows to all the practitioners, and together they would make prayers to bring peace to the world.
This tradition was started by the Seventh Karmapa and has been active from that time, sometimes more or less active depending on the circumstances, but continuously up until the Communist invasion. Afterwards, everyone escaped from Tibet and for a few years, the prayer festival was discontinued. During this time, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, one of the great Mahasiddhas in our Kagyu Lineage and a completely renounced master, would do the Good Conduct prayer and make offerings of 100 butter lamps every day. During the Lhasa Chokang, he would do 100,000 Good Conduct Prayers, and then in India he gathered a number of monks and continued the tradition of the daily offering of the Good Conduct prayer and 100 butter lamps. After a few years in India, he expanded this tradition and during the Tibetan New Year, he would take the monks to the Bodhi Tree in Bodghaya and make offerings and prayers for seven days. He would lead forty monks and provide them with food and make offerings every night. The first time, there were not so many people, but year by year, the numbers grew to be 500 monks, and then this gathering grew to a thousand monks.
During this time, he had Western students, and inspired by his activity, they desired to sponsor the seven day ritual in Bodghaya. After this, even more monks, nuns and laypeople arrived to make pilgrimage. Between the sessions of prayer, His Eminence gave teachings and everyone admired the teachings and guidance. Soon, people from Europe and China arrived to give donations, and both the numbers of people and their accommodations improved. Once His Eminence passed into Nirvana, his heart disciple His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche maintained the tradition of his root guru, and the Monlam continued to expand. His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche led the festival until His Holiness the Karmapa was invited, and then the leadership of the Monlam was passed to His Holiness with assistance by Bokar Rinpoche.
Last year, I was present at this festival, and observed more than 100,000 people and 5,000 monks and nuns along with many lay people. I saw people from all of the races of the universe, with different languages and costumes. His Holiness the Karmapa presided as the head of the Monlam and gave vows and teachings, and made full day prayers for the long life of all Buddhist teachers and peace in all the world. It is amazing and inspiring, so this has become His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.s main activity to benefit sentient beings. Now, many people saw this and wanted to bring these blessings to their own country and make prayers for peace, so this festival has spread out from Bodhgaya to all the world. This aspiration prayer festival now takes place annually in Europe, Asia, South and North America. Being involved with this ritual is the most meaningful way to engage oneself physically, mentally and verbally. Those who support this ritual with whatever means they have available find that this really brings meaning to one.s life, because you are making meaningful contributions to world peace, purifying past negativity and planting the seed of positive in your heart. If Bodhicitta was not present in your heart before, then the seed is planted. If the seed is already there, then it grows more and more. In this way, your life becomes very meaningful and even if you cannot be liberated in this lifetime, in the next life you will meet good conditions for the path of liberation.
The Monlam festival arrived to the United States in 2010 in Woodstock, New York, and was completed very well in a large monastery with good accommodations. In 2011, the Monlam came to Canada to Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver, where it was amazingly arranged by the resident Khenpos, Lamas and monks, and the well-established monastery there. Everything was great and beautifully arranged, and in addition the event included the celebrations for His Holiness the Karmapa.s birthday as well as the 900 year Anniversary of the Karmapas. When it was complete, the Monlam banner was passed to San Francisco, California.
To all Buddhist followers, I, as representative of the 2012 North American Kagyu Monlam Association, would like to let you know that in this year of 2012 in San Francisco, California, we of Kagyu Droden Kunchab brought the Kagyu Monlam to Northern California. It took a year to make the preparations. Many individuals contributed their energy and donations. KDK hosted the entire Monlam, but it was supported by the following Dharma centers and individuals. Zeinob Burnham has been president of the KTC, Santa Cruz center for a long time, and she was very determined and motivated to make the Monlam happen here. Her motivation was most significant. Kagyu Sukha Choling of Ashland, Oregon was very generous and supported a huge amount of donations. The directors Lama Pema and Lama Yeshe as well as the president Phyllis Norris were very kind and determined for the Monlam to come true. The family of Craig and Deborah Janke also donated a huge amount, and possessed good motivations and put all efforts to making the Monlam happen. The Arcata group, coordinated by Henry and Mody Holloman, together with Lama Nyugu, his wife Vonnie and others of the study group raised lots of donations. Mingyur Rinpoche.s student, Renee Leung, was one of the very active and determined participants who helped make the Monlam come to reality, and her good aspirations and good work resulted in huge amounts of donations due to her efforts. The remaining Northern California centers assisted as well as Wangchen Rinpoche.s center in Los Angeles, along with many individuals. Ani Lodu Zangmo, Victoria Whitehead, along with Ani Palmo and other Sangha made donations. Doris and Lea of the Palo Alto group gave their full attention, ideas and material for the Monlam. Lhuntok Choeling of San Jose also supported the Monlam mentally and materially. Our effort is one condition, but the primary condition is the blessings of His Holiness the Karmapa for this event to come to reality.
The Monlam was supported by many volunteers. There was financial support, but money alone doesn.t do anything . somebody has to work hard to make things happen. Among those who worked hard, Lama Choying, Cone Beckham, Renee Leung, Deborah Janke, Ani Palmo, Morris Chen, Tracy Loh, Roger Ford and Jordan Lim, and Jason were involved from the very beginning and worked throughout to make this Monlam come true.
Until the fundraising dinner was completed, I thought the finances for the Kagyu Monlam were coming up very short. KDK had good credit, and I would have borrowed money from the bank to complete this event if it were necessary. But, through the blessings, Renee provided a solid idea about serious fundraising, and was determined and encouraged everyone that it could be done. Everyone followed her suggestions for the fundraising dinner, and before I left for India, only twenty people had purchased tickets, so I was not too hopeful that we could completely raise the money necessary for the event. When I returned, forty tickets had been sold, and then KDK arranged a teaching schedule with the Very Venerable Drubpon Rinpoche.
At the dinner itself, Cone Beckham was the M.C.; I welcomed the guests and introduced Very Venerable Drubpon Rinpoche to the audience, and then gave a basic explanation of the Kagyu Monlam. Drubpon Rinpoche was our Guest of Honor, and he presided over the fundraising dinner and read the letter from His Holiness the Karmapa for the audience. His presence was amazingly effective. Cone read the English translation, and Renee Leung read the Chinese translation. Lama Choying read a letter by Richard Blum, Senator Dianne Feinstein.s husband, and a letter by Rock n. Roll star Bob Weir was read by his sister.
During the dinner, we found out that despite raising the capacity of the seating arrangements, it was completely sold out for over 200 people. In the end, there were many truly generous people who observed that our activity is truly motivated for peace in the world and to support His Holiness. wishes, so due to their generosity we raised a huge amount of money. At this time, I gained complete confidence.
As we all know, buying and cooking for 460 people is not simple, even though this is a very important condition to hold this event, so we all have to give thanks to Damtsik Beckham. She not only did the shopping for food and ganachakra substances but also was the overseer of the cooking crew. This is a very important part for the event, so we have to give thanks to her for her time, skill, motivation and determination, as all these together made everybody happy. Many people asked me for the recipes, which showed how much everyone enjoyed the food. Many people asked me, .Who was the cook and how did she cook this?. I told them that this person is my niece and I was very proud to hear this. At the end, I saw that she was very tired but still had so much energy that she was ready to do another Monlam! We also give our thanks to the kitchen crew who cooked and served for these three days, and all the Tibetan Community who helped cook and serve.
Assisting Zeinob Burnham in the Shrine room were a dedicated group of Dharma Guards and Ushers who ensured order at all times . we give them thanks for their complete dedication for three days. Also, John Coale, Kurt Haroldsen, Jacek Rosa and Joanna of the Camera & Video crew dedicated themselves to making professional Audio/Visual recordings of the Monlam.
Acharya Kunzang was very helpful during the Monlam, and was in charge of arranging transportation and accommodations for the Rinpoches, Khenpos, Lamas, Monks and Nuns who arrived from all over the world. He attended the Chopen and Torma Master while they were making preparations, and arranged a welcome to all the Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas who arrived from the airport. We give thanks to him and all the many drivers who kindly provided transportation for the Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas for all three days.
Betsy hosted seven monks and two Rinpoches and contributed room and board, and Renee was the most helpful in hosting a number of Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas. Lana hosted one lama, and Giovanni and Tsering hosted Khenpo Karathar and his entourage, assisted by Norton, Trinley and Joann. Yeshe and Stacey hosted the Omdze and lamas, and lamas were also hosted by Cone and Damtsik, Gail Rossi, and Larry and Tram. The rest of the Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas resided in the KDK Dharma Center.
The Monlam was led by His Eminence Choegon Rinpoche, Venerable Dilyak Drubpon Rinpoche, and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. I requested Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche particularly to preside as head ceremony master because he is His Holiness Sixteenth Karmapa's apppointee at Woodstock, New York, which is the seat of His Holiness in the United States. Also, he has been in the West for a very long time.
We had over sixty Rinpoches, Khenpos, Lamas, Monks and Nuns who presided over the ceremony from beginning to end. The daily participants numbered up and down, but were no less than 250, with the last day having over 400 participants. Two of the torma ritual masters arrived earlier on June 8th and worked hard from 6 AM to midnight for weeks to arrange the tormas. On June 28th, the tormas were completely done and ready to be arrayed as the mandala in the Golden Gate Park Hall of Flowers. The altar was quite beautifully arranged, with many thankas and statues. The hall became the perfect, pure mandala for those three days. Each and every one who came by were inspired to Buddhist practice and filled with longing to follow Buddhism.
Ordinary people often try to bring peace by protesting. But these protestors are angry, and the target of the protests become more angry, and it doesn't look like this method brings peace - instead, it just makes things worse. For example, two rocks rubbing together for long enough will result in fire. This fire can destroy and consume every living thing in the world. So, how is this Kagyu Monlam important? Participants in the Monlam pray one pointedly with compassion and loving kindness to all living beings without exception, and with devotion to the enlightened beings. This brings peace to themselves as well as invokes peace from the divine, and this affects all the world. I think that this is the way to bring world peace.
The Monlam hosted representatives of all the Dharma centers from Canada and the United States, and many Rinpoches, Khenpos and Lamas came to participate. Some of them arrived from as far away as India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Brazil. The Gelugpa centers and Nyingma centers participated, as well as Chinese monks and nuns, and members of all the varied races in the United States. I and all of the 2012 North American Kagyu Monlam Association wish to give thanks to all the Rinpoches, Khenpos, Lamas, Monks and Nuns and lay participants, thank you very much for coming. We appreciate it from our heart.