Tergar Monastery/Monlam Pavillion,
11 February 2025
This event celebrates the achievement of those who have completed the Kagyu three- year retreat in the tradition of the Six Yogas of Naropa. The practice of combining the Six Yogas of Naropa into a Monlam dates back to the time of Chodrak Gyatso, the Seventh Karmapa. During the traditional three-year retreat, the retreatants learn the practice of tummo—the generation of internal heat—which is one of the Six Yogas of Naropa, and a special practice of Milarepa. At the end of the retreat, they are expected to demonstrate their success in tummo by drying a wet cotton cloth with the heat of their body. This was particularly challenging in the past in the sub-zero climate of Tibet.
All participants in the procession have completed at least one three-year retreat. Although many nuns have successfully completed the practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa, only monks take part in this procession for reasons of modesty.
From the 5th – 10th February, the participants have been practising the Six Yogas of Naropa together each day in secret in Tergar Monastery shrine hall.
On the morning of the 10th, they met for one more practice session between 4.00am – 6.00am.
Finally at 6.30am, they emerged from the shrine hall wearing a long white cloth wrapped around their bodies, the red Kagyu hat, a yoga belt, and a short skirt. A large cauldron of cold water awaited them. They dipped the white cloths in the water and then wrapped them over their shoulders. The procession made its way around Tergar shrine
Hall, through the monastery grounds to the Kagyu Monlam Pavillion, and the cotton-clad monks turned from side-to-side as they walked, to demonstrate their prowess at tummo.
Once in the Pavillion, they took pride of place on stage, sitting in rows in front of Gyaltsab Rinpoche.
