Pre-Monlam Teaching
February 1-3, 2025
Feb 1 • Day 1
8:00am - 9:30am
• Preparations for The Short Torma Empowerment of Five-Deity Jinasagara9:30am - 10:00am
• Tara Prayer & Tea10:00am - 11:30am
• The Short Torma Empowerment of Five-Deity Jinasagara by H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche11:30am - 2:00pm
• Break for Lunch2:00pm - 3:30pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)3:30pm - 4:00pm
• Tara Prayer & Tea4:00pm - 5:30pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)Feb 2 • Day 2
8:00am - 9:30am
• Vajradhara Lineage Prayer (p. 272)• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (p. 613)
• Teachings on Pointing Out the Three Kayas by H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche
9:30am - 10:00am
• Tara Prayer & Tea10:00am - 11:30am
• Teachings on Pointing Out the Three Kayas by H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche• Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• Aspiration of Mahamudra (353)
11:30am - 2:00pm
• Break for Lunch2:00pm - 3:30pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)3:30pm - 4:00pm
• Tara Prayer & Tea4:00pm - 5:30pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)Feb 3 • Day 3
8:00am - 9:30am
• Vajradhara Lineage Prayer (p. 272)• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (p. 613)
• Teachings on Pointing Out the Three Kayas by H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche
9:30am - 10:00am
• Tara Prayer & Tea10:00am - 11:30am
• Teachings on Pointing Out the Three Kayas by H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche• Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• Aspiration of Mahamudra (353)
11:30am - 2:00pm
• Break for Lunch2:00pm - 3:30pm
• Vajradhara Lineage Prayer (p. 272)• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (p. 613)
• Teachings on The Meditation on Avalokiteshvara All-Pervading Benefit of Beings by H.E. Bokar Choktrul Rinpoche
3:30pm - 4:00pm
• Tara Prayer & Tea4:00pm - 5:30pm
• Teachings on The Meditation on Avalokiteshvara All-Pervading Benefit of Beings by H.E. Bokar Choktrul Rinpoche• Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• Aspiration of Mahamudra (353)
The Kagyu Monlam
February 5 - 12, 2025
Feb 5 • Day 1
6:00am - 8:30am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Refuge and Bodhichitta and following (31–42)
• Praises from the Sutra of Ornamental Appearances (43)
• Praises from Ornament of the Sutras and following (62–80)
• The Sutra in Three Sections and following (81–97)
• Aspiration from the Ratnavali (113)
9:00am - 10:30am
• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (613)• Supplication to the Lineage of the Bodhisattva Vow (274)
• Teachings by the Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha
• Stages of the Path (341)
• Recitation of the Concise Aspiration (169)
• Dedications for the Living and Deceased (170)
• The Dharani for the Fulfillment of Aspirations (175)
• The Aspiration for the Teachings to Flourish (621)
1:30pm - 3:00pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)• Maitreya’s Aspiration (p. 130)
3:30pm - 5:00pm
• The Accomplishment of True Words (333)• Joy and Comfort for Beings (337)
• Stages of the Path (341)
• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610)
• Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• Verses on Joy and Goodness from The Sutra Requested by a God (197)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
Feb 6 • Day 2
6:00am - 8:30am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Refuge and Bodhichitta and following (31–42)
• Praises from the Rashtrapala Sutra and following (54–80)
• Praises from Ornament of the Sutras and following (62–80)
• A Praise of Manjushri (227)
• Praise of Noble Avalokiteshvara (229)
• The Sutra in Three Sections and following (81–97)
9:00am - 10:30am
• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (613)• Supplication to the Lineage of the Bodhisattva Vow (274)
• Teachings by the Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha
• Stages of the Path (341)
• Recitation of the Concise Aspiration (169)
• Dedications for the Living and Deceased (170)
• The Dharani for the Fulfillment of Aspirations (175)
• The Aspiration for the Teachings to Flourish (621)
1:30pm - 3:00pm
• The Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct (p. 117)• The Aspiration from The Way of the Bodhisattva(136)
• The Sukhavati Prayer “I prostrate with respect” (149)
3:30pm - 5:00pm
• An Aspiration for the Dharma of the Shangpa Kagyu (343)• The Thirty Aspirations (351)
• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610) • Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• The Auspiciousness of Twelve Deeds (190)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
7:00pm
• Western-style Debate: Should monastics eat meat that is pure in the three ways or not?Feb 7 • Day 3
6:00am - 8:30am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Refuge and Bodhichitta and following (31–42)
• Praises from the Rashtrapala Sutra and following (54–80)
• The Praise “Beautiful Ornament of the Earth” (251)
• Praise of Shri Samantabhadra with Aspirations (254)
• The Sutra in Three Sections and following (81–116)
9:00am - 10:30am
• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (613)• Supplication to the Lineage of the Bodhisattva Vow (274)
• Teachings by the Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha
• Stages of the Path (341)
• Recitation of the Concise Aspiration (169)
• Dedications for the Living and Deceased (170)
• The Dharani for the Fulfillment of Aspirations (175)
• The Aspiration for the Teachings to Flourish (621)
1:30pm - 3:00pm
• Short Sadhana of the Medicine Buddha (501)3:30pm - 5:00pm
• The Aspiration of Avalokita (360)• Twenty Aspirations of Taklungthangpa (367)
• The Aspiration of Trophu (372)
• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610)
• Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• “May he who utterly conquers greed…” (187)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
Feb 8 • Day 4
6:00am - 8:30am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Refuge and Bodhichitta and following (31–42)
• Praises from The Ornament of the Sutras and following (62–80)
• Praise of the Six Ornaments and Two Great Beings (267)
• Supplication of the Twenty-Five Chariots (270)
• The Short Vajradhara Lineage Prayer (272)
• The Sutrain Three Sections and following (81–116)
9:00am - 10:30am
• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (613)• Supplication to the Lineage of the Bodhisattva Vow (274)
• Teachings by the Gyalwang Karmapa on the Life of Atisha
• Stages of the Path (341)
• Recitation of the Concise Aspiration (169)
• Dedications for the Living and Deceased (170)
• The Dharani for the Fulfillment of Aspirations (175)
• The Aspiration for the Teachings to Flourish (621)
1:30pm - 3:00pm
• Praises of Tara and Sarasvati (281–306)3:30pm - 5:00pm
• Yelpa’s Aspiration (379)• The Aspiration “The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel” (380)
• An Aspiration for the Seven Spiritual Trainings (383)
• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610)
• Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• “I prostrate to the Buddha…” (186)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
7:00pm
• Western-style debate: Did Tönmi Sambhota invent Tibetan writing or not?Feb 9 • Day 5
6:00am - 8:30am
• The Essence of Glory Practice of the Sage through the mantra recitation (separate text)9:00am - 10:30am
• Kangyur Procession9:00am - 10:30am
• Mandala Offering with 37 Features (613)• The offerings and praises from The Essence of Glory Practice of the Sage (separate text)
• Reading of the Kangyur
• The conclusion of The Essence of Glory Practice of the Sage (separate text)
1:30pm - 3:00pm
• Seven-Line Prayer (307)• Clearing the Path of Obstacles (308)
• Spontaneous Fulfillment of Wishes (321)
• Long Life Prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama (595)
• Long Life Prayer for His Holiness the Sakya Trichen (separate text)
3:30pm - 5:00pm
• The Aspiration of the Mahamudra of Definitive Meaning (353)• The Barom Aspiration (405)
• Phagmodrupa’s Aspiration (408)
• The Tsalpa Aspiration (410)
• The Uncommon Dedication and Aspiration (416)
• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610)
• Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• “I prostrate to the Buddha…” (186)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
Feb 10 • Day 6
6:00am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Refuge and Bodhichitta and following (31–42)
• Prostrations and Offerings to the 16 Elders (469-471)
• “For each and every being a protector…” (37-42)
• “Peerless, the sight of you never satiates…” (471-477)
• Abbreviated offerings (80)
• Abbreviated confessions (91)
• Rejoicing and so forth (96-97)
• “Arya arhats, emanations…” (478)
7:00am
• Sixteen Arhat Procession1:30pm - 3:00pm
•The Sutra in Three Sections (81)• Reading the Akshobhya Sutras (487)
• An Aspiration for Rebirth in the Realm of Abhirati (431)
3:30pm - 5:00pm
• An Aspiration for Birth in Sukhavati (442)• The Indestructible Garland of Vajras (181)
• Long Life Prayers (599–610)
• Offerings to the Protectors (479-84)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• “I prostrate to the Buddha…” (186)
• The Dharma Blaze Aspiration (177)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)
7:00pm
• Western-style debate: Did Tönmi Sambhota invent Tibetan writing or not?Feb 11 • Day 7
4:00am - 6:00am
• Exercises from the Six Yogas (Retreat lamas who have completed the three-year retreat)6:30am
• Cotton-Clad Procession (Retreat lamas who have completed the three-year retreat)6:00am - 8:30am
• Mahayana Sojong Vows (3)• Sanskrit Prayers (7)
• Offerings to the Gurus (533–561)
• (Offering the Song of the Essence of Interdependence
• Debate by monks from the Kagyu Guncho
• Presentation of prizes to the best debaters from the Kagyu Guncho
• Presentation of prizes from the Grand Examination of Monastic Forms)
• Offerings to the Gurus (561–569)
9:00am - 10:30am
• The Sutra in Three Sections (81)• Offerings to the Gurus (562)
2:00pm - 5:00pm
• Mandala with 37 Features (613)• Appreciation of the Sponsors (204–214)
• Special Address from the Gyalwang Karmapa
• The Great Aspiration and Dedications (157–180)
• Mila’s Aspiration (424)
• Aspiration for Well-Being of Tibet (427)
• Lord Marpa’s Song of Auspiciousness (215)
• Auspicious Prayers from The Vinaya Topics (185)
• The Auspiciousness of the Great Encampment (217)
• “The one who taught the truth...” (221)