"The final day of the 25th International Kagyu Monlam began at 6.00am as the mist cleared and the sky lightened. Gyaltsab Rinpoche conferred the Sojong vows. Gyalwang Karmapa joined the assembly for the short second session during which the Heart Sutra and Prostrations and Offerings to the Sixteen Elders, among other brief prayers were chanted. The main event of the morning was the Alms Procession. The gelongs and gelongmas, wearing chogos and namjars, began assembling under the Bodhi Tree at 10am in their monastic order. Gyaltsab Rinpoche led the procession followed by Mingyur Rinpoche, Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku and other senior Rinpoches and lamas. The first hundred or so gelongs carried in their right hands the traditional monk’s staff, which they tapped on the ground as they walked, making the metal rings sound. Behind the gelongs came the gelongmas, the first one of which also carried the traditional staff. A group of Korean bhikshunis followed. Each monk and nun also carried a large grey metal begging bowl in their left hands."
The Nyingma & Kagyu Monlams in Bodhgaya, India
Monlam, also known as The Great Prayer Festival, falls on 4th -11th day of the 1st Tibetan month in Tibetan Buddhism. The event in Tibet was established in 1409 by Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Geluk tradition. As the greatest religious festival in Tibet, thousands of monks (of the three main monasteries of Drepung, Sera and Ganden) gathered for chanting prayers and performing religious rituals at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. In 1517, Gedun Gyatso became the abbot of Drepung monastery and in the following year, he revived the Monlam Chenmo, the Great Prayer Festival and presided over the events with monks from Sera, Drepung and Gaden, the three great monastic Universities of the Gelugpa Sect.
"The main purpose of the Great Prayer Festival is to pray for the long life of all the holy Gurus of all traditions, for the survival and spreading of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace. The communal prayers, offered with strong faith and devotion, help to overcome obstacles to peace and generate conducive conditions for everyone to live in harmony."
Examinations for the highest 'Lharampa Geshe' degree (a degree in Buddhist philosophy in the Geluk tradition) were held during the week-long festival. Monks would perform traditional Tibetan Buddhist dances (cham) and huge ritual offering cakes (tormas) were made, that were adorned with very elaborate butter sculptures. On the fifteenth day the highlight of Monlam Chenmo in Lhasa would be the "Butter Lamp Festival" (Chunga Chopa), during which the Dalai Lama would come to the Jokhang Temple and perform the great Buddhist service. Barkhor Square in front of the Jokhang would be turned into a grand exhibition site for the huge tormas. At the end of the festival, these tormas would be burned in a large bon-fire.
Traditionally, from New Year's day until the end of 'Monlam', lay Tibetans would make merry. Many pilgrims from all over Tibet would join the prayers and teachings, and make donations to the monks and nuns. Many other monasteries would hold special prayer sessions and perform religious rituals, for example some monasteries would unfold huge religious scroll-paintings (thankas) for all to see. During the Cultural Revolution, the monlam festival was banned, and although it was revived once in 1985, it was prohibited again in 1990 by the Chinese government. In the newly established monasteries in India, the monlam festival is gradually being revived.
"For Buddhists today, the Mahabodhi Temple is a beacon of light shining through the darkness of chaos and confusion. As negative forces increase in intensity all over the world, there is a great need to touch the energy of enlightenment that radiates from this holy place. The Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, 'World Peace Ceremony', grew from a vision inspired by Bodh Gaya shortly after the Chinese incursions into Tibet drove a hundred thousand Tibetans into exile. Struggling for survival in a new land, the lamas held fast to their practice and tirelessly worked to establish centers where they could maintain their religious tradition. These refugee Tibetans began to turn to Bodh Gaya for inspiration and renewal, to pay homage to the enlightened ones, and to offer prayers for parents, family, and teachers still in Tibet, where their destiny was uncertain. Among them was Ven. Tarthang Rinpoche, who made his first pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya in 1959."
"In the following years, Tarthang Rinpoche sponsored a series of prayer ceremonies at various locations including Bodh Gaya with the idea of fostering cohesive Buddhist development as well as focusing spiritual energy for harmony and world peace. In December, 1989, tulkus, abbots, lamas, monks and nuns from six countries and from twelve different locations in India made their way to Bodh Gaya to join Tarthang Rinpoche in celebrating the first Ngagyur Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, Prayers for World Harmony and Peace. Not even in Tibet had the Nyingma Sangha ever come together in so large a group."
Bodh Gaya is a village in the state of Bihar. As the site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment, Bodh Gaya is the most revered of all Buddhist sacred sites. The main complex houses the famous Mahabodhi temple/stupa and a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment.
The nearest airport is at Gaya (16 km) - Druk Air flies from Bangkok once a week. Thai Airways flies to Gaya daily. Indian Airlines flies from Kolkata on Fridays at 10.00 a.m. and Returns back on Mondays from Gaya at around 15.00 hrs.
The nearest Railway station is Gaya (16 km). From there you can take a bus or a three wheel taxi to Bodh Gaya. Three-wheel taxi price is extremely variable, depending on time of day, but should be between 80-120 Rs. You should bargain considerably, there is rarely a shortage of service.
The train from Patna (which as the nearest good size airport and railhead) to Gaya costs 34 rupees (as of January 2008). The express trains take about two hours. Best train travel from Calcutta is about 8 hours; from Delhi, about 15 hours.
The road from Patna is in condition at the moment, train is also recommended.
Most temples open from 6 am to sunset and close between noon and 2 pm.
* Bodhi Tree - it is believed that this tree is a direct descendant of the one under which the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment, inside the Mahabodhi complex.
* Mahabodhi Stupa
* Thai Monastery,
* 80-foot Buddha Statue
* Japanese temple (Indosan), Temple Road, ☎ 2200743. 5am-6pm. edit Daily morning meditation.
* Archaelogical Museum, closed Fridays, IR 2 (foreigners and locals alike)
* Tergar Monastery, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
* Phowa Center, Choeje Ayang Rinpoche
* Gendhen Phelgyeling Monastery
* Karma Dhargye Chokhorling Monastery, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
* Root Institute, Zopa Rinpoche
* Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, prayer festival, January
* Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, prayer festival, January/February
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