ARRIVAL

In the early afternoon on Decemer 6, 2017 Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and his wife Sangyumla arrived at Gaya International Airport. At Dhargye Chokhor Ling Monastery Karmapa’s monks welcomed him with a traditional ceremony and Ven. Beru Khyentse Rinpoche offered him a warm welcome.

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6 December 2017 Arrival and Welcoming Ceremony for Gyalwa Karmapa in Bodhgaya

On 7 December it was a great pleasure for everyone to also welcome His Holiness’ parents, Ven. Mipham Rinpoche and Mayumla. 

During the first few days of Karmapa’s stay in Bodhgaya, many of Sangyumla’s family members, such as her parents, her grandmother, and most of her siblings arrived from Bhutan. 

Sangyumla´s family from Bhutan come to the Karma Temple to meet with His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, and His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche.

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6 December 2017 The Family of Sangyumla Arrived in Bodhgaya
6 December 2017 Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Welcomes the Family of his Wife Sangyumla in Bodhgaya
7 December 2017 Arrival of Gyalwa Karmapa’s Parents in Bodhgaya
7 December 2017 Reception of Mipham Rinpoche in Bodhgaya
His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche Welcomes Gyalwa Karmapa’s Parents, Mipham Rinpoche and Mayumla
8 December 2017 Family Members of Sangyumla Visit Karma Temple in Bodhgaya

 

AUDIENCES 

As every year during the time of the Kagyu Monlam, many of the Ven. Rinpoches and many members of both the ordained and the lay sanghas feel the need to meet with His Holiness. Thus, he spends many hours in his beautiful audience room in Beru Khyentse Rinpoche’s Monastery in Bodhgaya.

 

The variety of needs is as big as one can imagine, and so is the diversity of people who come.
Politicians, sponsors, representatives of different Karma Kagyu Organisations, abbots and Rinpoches from monasteries and centers worldwide come for an audience.

Many groups of young monks or nuns also come to see His Holiness every day. Some of them have just entered the monastic institutions and are still very young. They take the opportunity to take refuge in the Three Jewels with His Holiness.
Some people ask important questions concerning their organizations, others come with burning questions for their dharma practice. Many come with deep sorrows, such as sickness or grief for a deceased loved one.
People queue for hours to meet the Gyalwa Karmapa. Thousands of kathaks are offered and countless people are blessed during these days.
His Holiness is there for each and everyone, mindful, patient and full of compassion.

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13 December 2017 The Governor of Hua Lien in Taiwan and his Wife Visit Gyalwa Karmapa in Bodh Gay
13 December 2017 The Abbot of Wat Suthat Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Thailand, Ven. Chao Khun Phva Dhammavatanadilok, Visits Gyalwa Karmapa in Bodh Gaya
17 December 2017 Jigme Rinpoche Meets His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa and his Wife Sangyumla
10 to 22 December 2017 Audiences with Gyalwa Karmapa during His Stay in Bodh Gaya

MEETINGS and CONFERENCES

KAGYU MONLAM MEETING

On 9 December an internal Kagyu Monlam Meeting took place  at Sujata Hotel, where organisational matters were discussed. In his closing statement Gyalwa Karmapa encouraged the participants to communicate in a good way and to support each other for the benefit of the activities of the lineage.

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9 December 2017 Kagyu Monlam Meeting in Bodh Gaya

THIRD INTERNATIONAL KARMA KAGYU MEETING

11 and 12 December 2017, Bodhgaya, Mahabodhi Resort and Convention Center
Approximately 200 invited guests from different countries came together to listen to the invited speakers, who gave an insight into their activities and their personal understanding of what the Karma Kagyu Lineage means to them.
These two days of exchange of experiences brought respect and mutual understanding amongst the participants in the most peaceful manner
For more detailed reports on this meeting please visit www.sabassociation.org .

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11 – 12 December 2017 Third International Karma Kagyu Meeting in Bodhgaya

KARMAPA’S VISIT TO THE BODHI TREE SCHOOL

13 December 2017

As in the years before, Gyalwa Karmapa was invited to the  Bodhi Tree School close to Bodhgaya. Many children and special guests welcomed His Holiness in a festive manner with all kinds of cultural performances, dances and speeches.

SABA supports the Bodhi Tree School. 

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13 December 2017 Gyalwa Karmapa Visits the Bodhi Tree School in Bodh Gaya

KAGYU MONLAM

14 to 20 December, Bodhgaya

The Kagyu Monlam Prayers at the Mahabodhi Stupa under the Bodhi Tree were opened by Gyalwa Karmapa in the early morning of 14 December 2017.

Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Beru Khyentse Rinpoche sat next to His Holiness.

Many more Rinpoches, Khenpos and high-ranking Lamas, as well as Gyalwa Karmapa’s  father, Ven. Mipham Rinpoche, and his mother Mayumla took part in the wishing prayers. For the first time Karmapa´s wife Sangyumla and many members of her family joined the prayers. 

Thousands of monks and nuns from the various Himalayan regions as well as from many other countries came to pray together under the Bodhi Tree for one week. Many lay people from all over the world participated as well. 

This year the Monlam Office stated  a total number of up to 15000 participants.

In 2017 again, as already during the last few years, the generosity of Mrs. Katherine Cheng from Hong Kong was outstanding.

The area around the Bodhi Tree had been perfectly prepared. A team of monks had created hundreds of beautiful tormas and prepared all the altars at the Bodhi Tree and around the Mahabodhi Stupa. Flowers had been beautifully arranged, and thousands of offering bowls filled with water. The weather was nice, warm and sunny during the whole week.

On 18 December, blankets were distributed to the poorest of the poor, who lack even the barest necessities of life. 

It was a wonderful, peaceful event, which found its glorious conclusion in the last session on 20 December with dedications and auspicious prayers (Tashis) in a rain of blossoms, joyfully offered by everyone.

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14 December 2017 Opening Ceremony on the First Day of the Kagyu Monlam 2017
15 December 2017 Second Day of the Kagyu Monlam Prayers Under the Bodhi Tree
16 December 2017 Third Day of Prayers and Aspirations During the Kagyu Monlam 2017
18 December 2017 Fifth Day of the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo in Bodh Gaya
18 December 2017 Blanket Distribution to the Poorest People in Bodh Gaya
20 December 2017 Final Dedication and Auspicious Prayers at the End of the Kagyu Monlam 2017

PUJAS and INITIATION

19 December 2017

CHANG CHOG PUJA

In the morning the ritual for the deceased was held at Dhargye Chokhor Ling Monastery.

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19 December 2017 Gyalwa Karmapa Conducts a Jang Chog puja (Ritual for the Deceased) at Karma Temple

CHENRESIG ABISHEKA

In the afternoon Gyalwa Karmapa gave a Chenresig Initiation at the monastery. The whole area was completely filled with people. Up to 7000 people were counted. For the blessing Gyalwa Karmapa and the assisting Lamas went through the crowd for more than six hours to reach everyone.

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19 December 2017 Gyalwa Karmapa Grants a Chenresig Empowerment to Over 7000 People at Karma Temple

20 and 21 December 2017

On 21 December Gyalwa Karmapa, Sangyumla and their respective families paid a private visit to Mahabodhi Temple.

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21 December 2017 Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, together with Sangyumla and Family Members, Visit the Mahabodhi Temple

LONG LIFE PUJAS

Two days of long-life pujas for Gyalwa Karmapa and prayers for the swift return of Shamar Rinpoche were performed at Dhargye Chokhor Ling Monastery.

22 December 2017

Mandala Offerings

The present Rinpoches, representatives of Dharma centers, lamas, monks, nuns and laypeople were given the opportunity to offer the traditional Mandala to Gyalwa Karmapa.

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22 December 2017 Tenshuk and Mandala Offerings to Gyalwa Karmapa at Karma Temple

23 December 2017

On 23 December Gyalwa Karmapa, his family and his entourage departed to New Delhi.