Activities of the Karma Kagyu lineage

Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche in Pullahari 
Bogangkar Tulku enthroned 
Situ Rinpoche and Jamgon Rinpoche meet in Palpung
First light 2000 
IKKDC - Third International Karma Kagyu Dharma Conference

Karma Gooncho in Karma Lekshey Ling

Swayambhu, Kathmandu: During the whole month of January, Ven. Lama Phuntshogs (the publisher of this magazine) monastery, Karma Lekshey Ling, became a centre of exchange, of visits and contacts. More than 208 students from different monasteries came together for Tshema (Logic) Richung Gyatsho. This was the first time in the history of Karma Kagyu lineage that students of different shedras (Institute of higher Buddhist philosophy) in exile came together in order to enter a competition in knowledge. Three monasteries took part in this event - Palpung Sherab Ling Institute, Thrangu Tashi Chöling Institute and of course Karma Lekshey Ling, as host. Mingyur Rinpoche and Gangkar Rinpoche from Palpung Sherab Ling, Kyodrag Tenying Rinpoche and Gyalpo Rinpoche from Karma Lekshey Ling participated.

Before the students started with the program, Karma Goonchö was officially opened by His Eminence Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche on January 8th, 1998. It was indeed a great day for all of us. Early in the morning the monks came together in order to receive Lama Phuntshog’s last orders, also drawing the eight auspicious signs on the way Jamgön Rinpoche would take, getting all instruments and ritual items together an then finally going down to Ring Road in a line to queue up and welcome His Eminence. Everyone was excited and finally Lama Gyaltsen gave sign that the car was about to approach. This very moment the monks started to play the different instruments and lit incense as an offering to Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche.

The fourth Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche, Karma Lodro Chökyi Nyima, was born on November 26, 1995 in Lhasa. He was recognised and named by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. His Eminence received the hair-cutting ceremony by His Holiness Karmapa in September 1996. The following year, on September 19, 1997, His Eminence met with His Holiness Dalai Lama as traditionally done and received the hair-cutting ceremony together with a letter agreeing to his recognition by the 17th Karmapa. The Dalai Lama also bestowed His Eminence the name Tenzin Ozel Chöying Gyatsho. On November 17, 1997, His Eminence, having left Tibet, returned to his main seat at Pullahari.

The monks slowly proceeded towards the monastery and escorted the car with the Rinpoche. In fact, the whole area came together to welcome His Eminence and it was hard preventing all people waiting with kataks from touching His Eminence and receive his blessings. Finally the jeep reached its destination and His Eminence the fourth Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche was carried into the temple on the shoulders of Tenzin Dorje, his personal secretary and confidant. Rinpoche was seated on the throne and still very young attended the ceremony with great dignity.

Gyalpo Rinpoche together with Ven. Lama Phuntshog offered the representations of body, speech and mind to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa and His Eminence Jamgön Rinpoche. And then all the monks could receive a personal blessing, followed by all lay people who then entered the temple to offer kataks and some gifts to the high guest. Since the message spread, the number of people coming to receive His Eminence’s blessings didn't diminish. On the contrary, it seemed the whole area, all monks and nuns of monasteries in Swayambhu, all families, children came to see Jamgön Rinpoche and offer kataks. But finally everyone received a blessing and saw Rinpoche. His Eminence afterwards was carried out again on the shoulders of his close disciple in order not only to take lunch but also to rest for a while.

Meanwhile all of us, monks, nuns, all lay people, had a great lunch feast, enjoying different dishes in the monastery’s courtyard. In the afternoon His Eminence participated in another ceremony in the temple and then left for Pullahari. This was the first time Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche had visited Karma Lekshey Ling since having returned to his seat and main monastery in Nepal. It was a great day for all of us, especially for me being asked to document the occasion by taking photos and reporting on it.

(published in The Himalayan Voice, Vol I, No. 6, Feb/March 1998)