On the second day of the Mönlam the participants gathered once again at the holy site of the Mahabodhi Temple for another day of chanting. In the morning the Gyalwa Karmapa and Shamar Rinpoche did not join in the recitation – there was another event scheduled which required their presence: the enthronement of Je Karma Trinlepa Chenpo, a tulku of the Karma Kagyu lineage who manifests only once every five or six generations.

The holy site of the Mahabodhi Temple was at its most splendid on the morning of the opening day of this year’s Kagyu Monlam. Thangkas depicting the masters of the Kagyu lineage had been put up on the Monlam shrine, and in front of them countless flower garlands, bouquets of flowers and butter lamps had been arranged, and a vast number of elaborately manufactured offering tormas set out. Every surface was covered with flowers laid out in intricate patterns, and a mood of joyful anticipation was in the air.

The celebrations of the 30th anniversary of His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche’s monastery in Bodh Gaya, Karma Dhargye Chokhor Ling, started on December 24, 2010, with an extensive version of the ritual of Mahakala. The puja started as early as 3am in the morning, and continued for the whole day, until 8pm in the evening.

On December 2, 2010, a day of religious festivities at KIBI (Karmapa International Buddhist Institute) in New Delhi marked the beginning of the month-long celebration of the 900th anniversary of the first Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa’s birth year.

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje has just finished a two-month retreat in Kündröl Ling in France. His visit being of a strictly private nature, no public events were scheduled during his stay there.
There was, however, a very special reason for the Gyalwa Karmapa’s visit to Kündröl Ling: during his two-month stay he received the entire transmission of the dam ngag dzö from Pewar Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s most revered lamas today.