Monday, September 15, 2014

Monlam Pavilion at Bodhgaya, India

Just nearby Tergar Monastery is the Monlam Pavilion which has been venue for hosting the Kagyu International Monlam at Bodhgaya, India since 2009.(http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/News/Report/Report_20120308_4.html)
It is presided by His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
(http://kagyuoffice.org/karmapa/)






















It is a Hugh spacious tent alike building which hosts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world taking part in the Kagyu Monlam event presided by Karmapa himself.
Generally it is held around year-end to beginning of following year.

As it is winter period, the cement floor will be covered with thin mattresses for Sangha and devotees who will be sitting on the floor. (Due to tight security during Monlam period, no hp & cameras are allowed into the premise except authorised personnel)

There will be direct translation of several languages (English, Mandarin, German, French, Poland, Vietnamese, etc.) from Tibetan language teachings given by Karmapa which can be received via tuning to a normal FM transmitter radio.
Live telecast is available too over internet (http://kagyuoffice.org/webcast/) for those who cannot attend personally in India. However it is advisable to attend at least once personally to experience the unique international atmosphere where you can interact with devotees of different countries.
And the opportunity to meet Karmapa close up via public or private audience!
(remember to bring more photocopies (at least 2) of your passport and passport size photos for submissions to register for audience at the Kagyu office located at the front-gate of Tergar Monastery during Monlam period.)



One may check up the latest Monlam schedule via: http://kagyuoffice.org/schedule/.


Oh, if one is interested, one may also register as Friends of Kagyu Monlam (http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/Monlam/monlam_membership.html), whereby one not only supports the event as a member but enjoys certain privileges during Monlam period such as free transportation from certain venues to Monlam Pavilion, free meals and extra Public audience opportunity to meet up with Karmapa, the Charismatic, Majestic, Wise and Compassionate yet no fuss Dharma Prince who has authored several books.

More information/sharing could also be found in https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kagyu-Monlam/118320059445;
A great documentary in progress: 
A good touching sharing by Venerable Hai Tao on Karmapa: 
Attached also a Very good QnA session between Mingyur Rinpoche & Venerable Haitao on Vajra practices and Karmapa. :-)
很棒的问答!详解藏传修行法!
Watch "海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談" on YouTube - 海濤法師與明珠仁波切智慧座談: http://youtu.be/Q_D_tobL_Ls

(It is mainly due to both Venerable Hai Tao and Mingyur Rinpoche 's praise for Karmapa which motivated me on this trip with friend, Gratitude to them _/|\_ )
----------------------------------------------------------------

Despite rejoicing in all the wonderful sites to visit in India, one must take necessary precaution when travelling in India. Below will be some tips to consider.
Avoid travelling in the dark alone. Best to travel in groups.
Always lock your room door, even in Hotels.
Always have a good torch light (it is not readily available in shops at Gaya so best to get a good one with good supply of batteries from your country) with you, even in your Hotel or Guesthouse as the electricity supply can be unstable.
Bring an anti-surge adaptor so that when electricity supply is cut-off abruptly due to unstable current which is common, it will not spoil your electrical products.
A ready press light for your bathroom is recommended.
Never drink un-boiled, unfiltered water unless you have a really strong stomach. Avoid even brushing your teeth with tap-water.
Bottled water is quite easily available at shops there or get a Thermal boiler/kettle (can also be purchased at electrical shops near the market beside Main temple) to boil bottled water (not tap water). 
Bring plasters and medicine for food poisoning, flu , fever and a good supply of  your regular medicines. 
Bring Face mask as protector (air is very polluted and dusty there unless after rain) which can also be bought on street but quality not as good as the cloth ones in Taiwan or China.
Bring Lip-gross and Sun block as UV high there. Sunglasses are also advisable.
Bring Hair-dryer, heat packs, Thermal water bottles which are useful in winter.
Umbrella, rain-coat and insect repellent are advisable too.
Winter hat, socks and night socks, hand gloves, scarf/neck protectors, necessary Thermal wear for winters.
Sleeping bag too is recommended.
Oh, a cheap, manual tuning FM radio (auto-scanning type not advisable) with good supply of batteries to last for days of teachings if attending Monlam.
Bring a cup too if attending Monlam as nice butter-tea or milk tea will be served during breaks. 
And a soft shoe-bag will be useful when visiting many places where footwear is disallowed. Never leave your shoes/slippers unattended unless you are already prepared  to donate them to someone who needs them more than you do without formally requesting from you. The slippers there may be as expensive or cost more than in your hometown especially if you approach the vendors barefoot.; -0
Once you are equipped and settled down, it will be a good trip.
Take care and enjoy...

4 comments:

Sunny said...

真實如法的發願

什麼是真實的發願?不只是心中想想而已,重要的是要實際去做。發願是一種「準備」,先發心、就有一種承擔,同時也實際這麼去做,這就是最甚深的祈願了。

噶舉祈願法會的目的,就是世界和平。

很多人會說,世界怎麼可能和平呢?只是空發願、在幻想罷了,也有很多人說不要發願了,反正沒用。但無論如何我們都要發願、祝福,都要繼續唸誦這些祈願文,因為世界上各種災難真的太多了,已經到了我們一種刻不容緩、要發願、也要以實際行動去幫助世界的時候。

雖然也有人說,你只是在這兒念一念、發發願,有什麼用呢?這還是非常重要的,因為現在每一字、每一句,都是未來願景的計畫,也是未來的很好鋪路,這就是大乘佛法很重要的一部分。

你說二乘行者他們最重要計畫就是涅槃,涅槃之後就沒什麼好說的,之後、人也不見了。

但對於大乘菩薩來說,他們的心願和計畫是很大的。他們總是在想未來要利益非常多的人,未來在輪迴未空盡之前,我都要不斷幫助每個人、每個生命。

所以,我們常常說發願不只是眼前、短暫的利益,我馬上要做什麼,並不是這樣。

願是無盡的,我們的願望是無盡的,這也是你對自己的一種規劃、一種提醒,我未來的目標、未來的方向是什麼?不斷、不斷的熏習自己,這樣的發願迴向,就真的是如法的了。

「迴向」和「發願」有什麼差別呢?舉例來說,就像是一滴水落入到大海中,只要大海不乾枯,這滴水也都不會消失,我們任何善行最後做「迴向」就像這樣。

而發願,就像是一個舵手一樣,它可以幫你導引到正確方向,所以同樣就算是一棵樹的小種子,因緣聚合的時候,未來都可以長出枝葉繁茂的大樹。

同樣的,我們現在只是念一段偈文或祈願文,或做點小小善行,但未來會長成枝葉繁盛的大樹的,所以我們這裡祈願的目標、動機要很清楚,不要把這難得的發願機會浪費了。

一件事情是否有意義,都在於開始的動機和心態是什麼,發願沒有任何限制,你要努力的、盡量的、敢於發大願,這是很重要的。

最重要一點,你要沒有我執。

我們平常都會覺得有一個很封閉的自我,好像有一個跟誰都沒有關係的、封閉的自我,其實這種我並不真實存在,其實我們是跟周圍每一個生命是息息相關的,這樣一個獨立存在的我,是不可能的。

舉例來說,我們現在吃一口飯、喝一口茶,都是好多人好多事的因緣和合才產生的,其實就好像我們一出生是什麼都沒有的,譬如名聲、衣食,都不是一出生就陪著而來的,而是因緣和合產生的。

看看我們的呼吸,每一口氣都是大自然提供的。同時也就好像昨天我提到的,比起自己一個人發願,功德更大的是一群人聚在一起發願,就好像許多稻草集合在一起的力量更大,這點要記在心理,好好發願。

~第十七世大寶法王 

時間:2012年3月1日
地點:大祈願法會舞台
https://mobile.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1196890793658323&id=100000122415597&set=a.488275807853162.123012.100000122415597

Sunny said...

The sentient beings living on the earth and the elements of the natural world need to join their hands together—the earth must not give up on sentient beings, and sentient beings must not give up on the earth. Each needs to grasp the other’s hand. So doesn’t the Monlam logo look like two hands clasping each other?

Its shape is also similar to the design of the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa’s Dream Flag of peace and serenity, which is used regularly among the Karma Kamtsang. If I were to make up everything myself, I doubt it would have any blessings, but using the previous Karmapa’s design as a model probably gives this blessings. 

This is a symbol of the Kagyu Monlam. We hold the Kagyu Monlam for the benefit of the entire world. We will not give up on the earth! May there be peace on earth! May the earth be sustained for many thousands of years! These are the prayers we make at the Kagyu Monlam, which is why this symbol is the logo of the Kagyu Monlam. I also think this might become a symbol of people having affection for the earth and wanting to protect it. 
More...
http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/News/Report/Report_20071226_2.html

Sunny said...

The Karmapa started by extending his warm greetings to the Members, commenting that in the years since the inception of the Kagyu Mönlam the number of participants had increased manifold. He shared his memories of the early days:

When I joined the Mönlam and started giving teachings, it was in a basement hall in the Mahayana Hotel, dark and windowless. It seemed a big venue at the time, as the Mönlam was only for foreigners. But that basement soon became too small, and we moved to the shrine room of Shechen Monastery. It was still only attended by students from abroad, but as more of them came they spilled out onto the veranda, they were opening windows and letting the mosquitos in. The Mönlam was extended to India-based participants with teachings in the Taiwan Temple, then Tergar was built.

The Karmapa observed how tight a fit the Members were in the Tergar shrine room, demonstrating the obvious need for the bigger Pavilion, and how even that was barely enough for the 10,000 people and more now taking part. He stressed, though, that drawing in a bigger and bigger crowd was not the most significant aspect of the Mönlam:

What is really important is the intended purpose which brings us together. This year, people from 50 different countries are here, united in aspiration and intent. That is what makes this gathering significant and important. We have this united purpose for peace in the world and for the well-being of all, without exception, so this is a sacred and precious gathering.

The Karmapa added that this kind of auspicious event had a tradition in the noble wishes and aspirations of previous Karmapas. He mentioned, especially, the 7th Karmapa, Chödrak Gyamtso, pointing out that prayers that were made during his time are done in the last day of the Kagyu Mönlam, and quoting an inspiring exhortation of his: "May we gather different languages and nationalities in joyous celebration. Let this happen again and again."


Continuing, the Karmapa said that when we gather together and make prayers for the benefit of all beings, we focus our attention and our attitude towards the flourishing of the profound teachings of the Buddha, and towards universal peace and harmony. He then related a recent personal experience that had made him appreciate how precious truly heartfelt aspirations can be:

A number of fellow Tibetans came to see me. Most were elderly, and told me that they had held their hopes within their minds for so long, and they now wanted to express them. They were wishing for these things, for peace and happiness for all the world, for the spread of the Dharma, and asking me to pray for them to come about, with tears in their eyes. It was more than mere words. Sometimes when things are memorised we don't experience them in depth, but this was from the core of their hearts, it was feeling articulated in words. This is not common, it is rare, so all the more precious. When people can make this kind of wholehearted aspiration, I think there is still hope for the world and for sentient beings.

The Karmapa then reminded everyone that as far as they were concerned, as Members, they couldn't be any closer to the Mönlam than they were already. That meant that they must have dreams in their life that were not limited to themselves, but were universal and global in their outlook, encompassing all sentient beings; this was a noble aspiration that they must embrace.


The Karmapa concluded the meeting by expressing his appreciation for the many ways in which Members supported the Kagyu Mönlam, and as a token of that appreciation, by handing out personally to each Member a calligraphy made by himself with the Tibetan words Nam Yang De - 'completely happy'.

More...
http://the17thkarmapa.blogspot.sg/2017/02/17th-gyalwang-karmapas-words-of-thanks.html?m=1

Sunny said...

Origins of 16 Arhats
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1071173226278970?view=permalink&id=1613995961996691