9 February 2025
Early in the morning, before sunrise, monks, nuns and laypeople assembled in the Monlam Pavillion to receive the Mahayana Sojong vows from Kyabje Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche. After taking refuge, generating bodhicitta and reciting the usual prayers, there was tea and bread. During this time, Khenpo Kelsang Nyima gave advice to everyone concerning the Kangyur procession and the reading. His advice was based on the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s instructions from some years ago.
Khenpo Kelsang Nyima’s Advice
The Buddha, the Blessed One, said: “In the final five hundred years, I will abide in the form of letters. Think that I the guru am present in them at that time, and respect them.” As it is said, from beginningless lifetimes, we have been obscured by the thick darkness of ignorance in the states of saṃsāra. When we have been wandering, conditioned by karma and afflictions, the one who opens our eyes to what to accept and reject is the true, perfectly complete Buddha.The Essence of Glory Practice of the Sage
Although he is not actually present now, this precious Kangyur, the collection of the Buddha's words, is the representative of the Teacher's body and speech.
Since the Teacher, the Buddha, said that in the final five hundred years of the era, he would abide in the form of letters, we can now realize all of the Buddha’s points of acceptance and rejection through this precious Kangyur.
As it is taught that one must generate the awareness that this represents the actual Buddha and cultivate faith, respect, and great devotion: the Kangyur is recited and proclaimed purely.
Similarly, there is also a history of reciting and purely proclaiming the Kangyur when epidemics, wars, and so forth occur in a country, in order to pacify them. In particular, the Gyalwang Karmapa, the wish-fulfilling jewel [Yishin Norbu] has said: "You all should attend the Kangyur recitation."
With each step you take, remember that in the past, the Dharma kings and paṇḍitas went to the noble land of India. They practiced immeasurable austerities. They translated the Dharma spoken by the Buddha from the language of India into Tibetan. Carrying it on their shoulders, they crossed the Himalayan rock mountains and boulder mountains. Without shirking at the dangers of perilous gorges, step by step, from the noble land of India to the snowy land of Tibet, and similarly to the land of China, Thailand, and so forth, throughout the east and west of the world, they spread the holy Dharma. Likewise, you all should attend the Dharma recitation.
With each step, may you proceed with the great aspiration to spread and propagate the Buddha’s teachings, flourishing and prospering limitlessly throughout the world, and as His Holiness the Karmapa, the wish-fulfilling jewel, has instructed, you should proceed while reciting the name-mantra of the Buddha.
Therefore, I request and implore you to proceed with the greatest possible aspiration and prayer.
This ritual is the Shakyamuni Buddha puja from the Kadampa tradition and was first introduced in the Special Kagyu Monlam at Bokar Shedra in 2023. The first part was recited in the Monlam Pavillion before the rinpoches, khenpos, monks, nuns and laypeople left to take part in the Kangyur Procession, and then the second part was recited in the Monlam Pavillion before the Kangyur reading.
The Kangyur Procession
Kyabje Zurmang Garwang Rinpoche, Kyabje Yongé Mingyur Rinpoche, and Kyabje Bokar Choktrul Rinpoche went to the Mahabodhi Stupa to lead the Kangyur Procession. They were received by the Bodhgaya Bodhi Tree Administration Committee who offered them katags.
At eight o'clock, they presented the traditional offerings of alms bowls and new silken robes to the Golden Buddha image within the Mahabodhi Stupa shrine room. Then, beginning from the north side of the offering pillar at the Mahabodhi Stupa, the procession began. It was led by the discipline master of Rumtek Shedrub Chökhorling Monastery bearing incense. There were monks blowing white conch shells and others playing gyalin. Kyabje Zurmang Garwang Rinpoche, Kyabje Yongé Mingyur Rinpoche, and Kyabje Bokar Choktrul Rinpoche, holding incense, processed at the head of the gelongs and gelongmas [fully ordained monks and nuns] carrying the Kangyur. The Kangyur has to be carried correctly—on the left shoulder, supported at the front by the left hand and steadied at the side by the right hand.
On both sides of the path, monastics and laypeople lined up, holding white scarves, lotuses and incense, while reciting prayers or chanting the mantra of Shakyamuni Buddha. Several scattered petals ahead of the procession or on the bodies of the lamas and the Kangyur. The procession concluded below the Bodhi tree with dedication and aspiration prayers, including the Mahāmudrā Aspiration Prayer.
Reading the Kangyur
After everyone had returned to the Monlam Pavillion, the remaining section of The Essence of Glory Practice of the Sage was recited and the distribution of the pages of the Kangyur to anyone who could read Tibetan, began. The reading was completed within two hours.
