February 1–3, 7:00–9:00 pm
In 2004, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa issued a code of conduct for monastics which was based on both the Vinaya precepts set out during the life of the Buddha himself and ritual aspects unique to the Tibetan context. He then personally trained a core group of monks and nuns who were then made responsible for training the monastics in their own institutions. After that, each year at Monlam, monks and nuns would be tested on their knowledge and application of the correct forms. In 2014, the test was transformed into an annual competition and renamed the Grand Examination of Monastic Forms, with prizes awarded to the winners on the last day of the Monlam. However, this year, because so many of the monks and nuns have been ordained more recently and have not received previous training, the competition aspect has been set aside. Instead, the monks and nuns are gathering in the Monlam Pavillion over three nights to receive instruction under the guidance of Khenpo Kelsang Nyima, the principal of Rumtek Shedra, with demonstrations by senior monks.
The six major areas covered by the code of conduct are
• the monastic robes: the correct way to wear them, how to treat them with respect, and the correct way to carry them;In addition to these basics, the gelong and gelongma [fully ordained monks and nuns] need to know how to wear the namjar, how to carry sacred texts correctly, for the Kangyur procession during Monlam, and how to carry alms bowls correctly, for the Alms procession. The plan is for the competition to resume next year.
• prostration : the correct way to prostrate especially when wearing the prayer shawl;
• the correct way to walk with dignity with downcast eyes and hands together;
• the correct way to sit and how to keep and use the special cloth seat – the dingwa;
• the correct way to accept food and drink;
• the correct way to chant offering prayers.
