The website for the 2012 North American Kagyu Monlam is http://californiakagyumonlam.org/

The Karma Kagyu Association of Canada wishes the Kagyu Droden Kunchab great success in their planning of the 2012 North American Kagyu Monlam.

The 2011 North American Kagyu Monlam was a great success! Everything went very well, all worked together with joy and in harmony. In addition to having Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche as the preceptor, and the presence of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, we were also blessed by a direct message from His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje, The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.

There were between 300 and 500 people in attendance each day in person, with hundreds present through logins to the webcast. There were almost 500 individual log-ins to the webcast from all over the world on the opening day of this 900 year celebration, which included messages and remarks by representatives of the federal government of Canada, the provincial government of British Columbia and the city of Richmond. The webcast of the Monlam was therefore also a great success, benefiting participants who were unable to attend in person.

This Monlam, 5 days long, included the Mahayana sojong vows being taken each day by both the ordained and lay community. The lay community was able to make a traditional offering of serving food to the ordained sangha of monks and nuns. Thrangu Monastery Canada provided a wonderful container for the entire event, with the smiling faces of all the Kagyu and other participants adding to the light in the shrine hall.

The conclusion of the Monlam, a celebration for His Holiness' birthday, took place in front of the monastery. There was a lama dance, performances by young Tibetan pop singers – in for Toronto to celebrate this event, Chinese and Nepali singers as well as bagpipes.

The Karmapa 900 books were given to all participants as was a beautiful thangka of Dusum Khyenpa by Karma Dradul, the artist of Thrangu Monastery. The unexpected appearance of a newly cast 3 foot tall Dusum Khyenpa Statue, filled, consecrated and placed on the throne the evening before the Monlam, was yet another auspicious coincidence. It provided additional support for the devotion that was tangible in the shrine hall throughout the event and, in particular, during the Dusum Khyenpa Guru Yoga practice.

The wondrous qualities of this North American Monlam, as with all Monlams, were apparent with the warm cooperative planning and execution by lamas and centres from all across Canada. We hope that this fulfilling of even a small part of His Holiness' wishes will engender even more wonderful monlam gatherings in the future.

123►

June 24th

1234...678►

Translation:

On this occasion of the two programs of the 900th anniversary of the Karmapa and the Kagyu Monlam, which are being held together at Thangu Monastery Canada, I would like to extend my warm greetings to the guests who have come to the program as well as all the faithful and interested public.

Among the two parts of the program, the more important and special is the 900th Anniversary. The Karmapa 900 celebration is not just the celebration of a single individual; it is a way to learn about the origin of one branch of the four major Tibetan religious schools and the vast and profound beneficial influence it has had over the course of hundreds of years of Tibetan history and culture. The 900th Anniversary can bring you to recollect with gratitude the good deeds of our great worldly and Dharma predecessors from all traditions, especially the Tibetan. Even in this 21st century—an era of development and technology—we have not lost the essence of their instructions but continue them. I would like to ask you to think of creating a new human era with happiness and meaning, and to lead a good life.

There are now many Kagyu Monlams that are held all over the world. The main purpose of them is that all people of different religions, ethnicities, and countries are ultimately the same in wanting happiness and wishing to be free of suffering. Likewise, our world does not belong to humans alone; it belongs to all the sentient who live on this earth. This is why I think it important that, in order to make this world into a ream equally for all creatures, a place where all can live in peace and equality, we make aspirations out of a loving heart and conduct ourselves well. Thus I hope and have the aspiration that through this Kagyu Monlam all of you can have a good heart and practice good conduct according to the Dharma without mistake or confusion.

I am also very happy and encouraged that Thrangu Monastery has been completed and such a great Dharma event can be held there. It has turned out very well. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche first and foremost among the lamas of the Thrangu monasteries in Tibet and abroad, as well as the lamas from the Karma Kagyu association of Canada and the faithful sponsors and helpers. I would also like to once again wish Tashi Delek to all of you who have come today’s events and to the Kagyu Monlam. I pray that you all be healthy and that all you do go well.

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, June 22, 2011

Please visit the North American Kagyu Monlam Webcast website for details on viewing the webcast in your web browser.

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche will be arriving June 21, 2011. Participants are invited to join us at our Preceptor Arrival Ceremony that day at 3:00PM.

12►

Update - June 18 Torma Completion

1234►