THE NYINGMA MONLAM CHENMO

ANNUAL CEREMONY FOR WORLD PEACE

With profound respect and deep reverence I bow and take refuge at the holy lotus feet of the glorious Guru Padmasambhava, embodiment of the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times. May all beings be blessed to be your devoted disciples for all of their life times until attaining enlightenment.  H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche had mentioned that although there have been many great past masters in the noble lands of India and Tibet during this difficult age, none can compare with the compassion and blessings that emanate from Guru Padmasambhava, who embodies the compassion and wisdom of all the buddhas.

The Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism was established in Tibet, the land surrounded by snow, by the Great Three; namely Guru Padmasambhava, the Khenpo Bodhisattva and the Dharma king Trisong Deutsen, who are also known as the glorious Regents of Buddha Shakyamuni. In the presence of these Great kings, the Enlightened Masters and Lotsawas translators, who were no another than the emanations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, established the Buddha Dharma in the traditions of the Sutrayana and Mantrayana in Tibet and caused it spread and flourish throughout that snowy land and finally to every corner of the world.

During this period of prolific Dharma activity of the Khen-Lop-Cho sum almost the entirety of the Tripitaka Sutras and the Mantrayana Tantric treatises along with their various commentaries were translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan, thus making this collection one of the most valuable treasures in the human world.

 The first Nyingma Monlam Chenmo was held in 1989. It was the result of a unique congregation of many great enlightened Nyingma masters, yogis, Tulkus, Khenpos, monks, nuns, ngakpas, lay people and western buddhists who had assembled at the holy site of Bodhgaya to express their devotion to the sacred Vajra seat, Bodhi tree and the Khen-lop-cho sum.

In particular, it came into being due to the magnificent and glorious vision of Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche as well as his outstanding generosity.

The last five decades have witnessed a world torn apart by warfare, tyranny, oppression and genocide- the blood-soaked testament of negatives, prejudice, greed and ignorance which has shattered human rights and values. This has had a deeply deleterious effect on the Buddha Dharma in general and the living tradition of the Nyingma in particular.

As such it has been necessary to undertake and promote a ceremony for World Peace such as the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo which engenders the cultivation of inner spiritual experience that is vital for strengthening the authentic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in the future.

At present, the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo provides the sole occasion for members of the diverse lineages of the Nyingma Tradition to congregate. It has taken on a vital significance with the need for greater understanding and co-operation among us all. It is our fervent hope that the Monlam (ceremony for world peace) will serve as an opportunity to foster closer ties and greater unity which would develop even further in the years to come.

It was thus decided by our Enlightened Masters to hold the Annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo at Bodhgaya from the first to tenth days of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calender. The 10th day would be observed as Guru Rinpoche day and Tsog would be offered with a sense of devotion to Guru Padmasambhava which would conclude the Monlam each year.

However, the 18th day of the 12th month is also a significant day in the Nyingma tradition, being the Anniversary of the All-knowing Longchen Rabjampa (1308-1363), one of the greatest Tertons in the history of the Nyingmapa. Its observance every year by thousands of Nyingma sangha members has also been due to the kind generosity of Tarthang Tulku.

In brief, the 12th month of the Tibetan calender assumes importance for the Nyingma Buddhist community, serving as the occasion for the Annual Monlam Chenmo as well as for the celebration of the Anniversary of Kunkhyen Longchenpa in Bodhgaya, both of which are aimed towards World Peace.

Our sincere prayers are for this ceremony for World Peace in Bodhgaya to continue into the distant future and thus benefit countless generations.

Vajrasana is venerated as being the source of all the Enlightened Buddhas of the past, present and the future. Hence this intrinsically hallowed site has been chosen by all the Buddhas of the three times to be the seat of their enlightenment. This vajra seat is not subject to destruction even at the end of an eon. The Buddha Shakya muni also attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya 2600 years ago. It has further been made sacred by innumerable luminaries in the history of Buddhism who are associated with and practised at this holy place. The list extends from Arhat Kashyapa, the regent of Lord Buddha and the seven respective Arhats, and Acharya Nagarjuna along with the Six Ornaments and two Excellent Masters, the great Bodhisattvas Manjusri, Maitreya, Vajrapani, Tara and Avalokitesvara including Vidhyadharas and Dzogchen masters such as Rigzin Garab Dorje, Vimalamitra, Padmasambhava, Vairochana as well as the eighty four Maha-    siddhas. Many other masters and Lotsawas such as Ronzom Mahapandita, Marpa, Atisha Dipamkara and other Indian masters were also inspired to study and practice here.

We owe a debt of gratitude to those great patrons and benefactors of the Buddha dharma, such as Dharmaraj Bimbisara, Prasenajit, Ajatashatru and Ashoka the great, who took sole responsibility for the protection and restoration of this most holy Vajra seat and Bodhi tree against all kinds of man-made and natural calamities.

Millions of devotees are drawn to the sacred vajra seat at Bodhgaya from all over the world, particularly from Buddhist nations namely Shri Lanka , Thailand , Korea , Japan China, Tibet , Burma-Myanmar and Nepal .

Many great living masters including HH the Dalai Lama, HH Sakya Trichen, Gyalwa Karmapa and Gaden Tripa have visited this sacred seat to pay homage and have presented discourses to thousands of followers. Due to the unique  sacred qualities of this "Field of merit", any aspiration or resolution made here takes on an incomparably greater strength and magnitude. It has been mentioned in the Sutras that just the intention to visit this sacred Vajra Seat releases one from innumerable obstacles and sufferings and enables one to accumulate boundless merits. It therefore goes without saying that the effects of this huge congregation praying together for world peace at Bodhgaya would be beyond imagination! The results of these meritorious actions would directly produce the seeds of enlightenment.

Hence, participation in the Annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo-World Peace Ceremony at Bodhgaya is extremely important and worthwhile in order to inspire hope and courage in bringing about greater peace, joy and happiness in the world as well as freedom from all manner of unnecessary sufferings.

1.  To pay homage and express our deepest respect and gratitude to Lord Buddha and Khen-lop-cho sum i.e. Khenpo Bodhisattva, Guru Padmasambhava and Chogyal trisong Deutsen and their esteemed lineage.

2.   To pray for the longevity of the Buddha Dharma in general and particularly for the living tradition of guru Padmasambhava to flourish and spread throughout the world.

3.   To fulfill the noble wishes of HH the Dalai Lama and all the glorious masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and to pray for their well-being and longevity.

4.   To work and pray for the welfare of the Sangha members, pacify and dispel all manner of illness and disease, negative karmas and obstacles, warfare and violence, famine and starvation, and to promote and strengthen human values and spiritual development on the road to achieving world peace.

5.   To work and pray for the re-unification of Tibetans with their own homeland of Tibet , and for truth and justice to prevail and bring peace to Tibet and Tibetans.

6.   To remember and pray for our parents, families and friends and all those who suffered so greatly or lost their lives during this great tragedy that has befallen our people.

7.   To dedicate the merit accrued from the observance of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo for the benefit of all sentient beings.

8.   To organise Dharma discourses, initiations, conferences and future ceremonies for world peace.

To achieve these objectives this annual gathering of a great many Nyingma Sangha members is highly symbolic. The Nyingma School is further able to consolidate and maintain its lineage and tradition by always chanting and reading the following extra-ordinary prayers:

1.   "The Arya Manjusri-nama-sanghiti" the king of Tantras,

2.   "The Arya-bhadracarya-pranidhanaraj" the king of Aspiration prayers,

3.   "The Leu Dunma of Guru Padmasambhava,

4.   "Dol-Chog" the Tara Sadhana-mother of liberation.

These prayers are also chanted during the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo at Bodhgaya.

The beginnings of the Monlam lie in the early eighties when HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and HH Dodrupchen Rinpoche individually led hundreds of Nyingma monks and nuns in performing the Monlam which involved the chanting of the Arya-bhadracarya prani dhanaraj king of aspiration prayers a hundred thousand times. This led to the formal inauguration of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo in 1989 principally through the instigation, generosity and far-sighted vision of Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche. The first four years saw the participation of many enlightened Nyingma masters including HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, HH Penor Rinpoche, HH Minling Trichen Rinpoche, HH Chadral Sangay Dorje Rinpoche, HH Tsetul Rinpoche, HH Trulshig Rinpoche, Tarthang Tulku and many others whose presence and blessings made a great impact on all the disciples.

HH Chadral Rinpoche also made an important announcement which involved the strict prohibition against eating meat during the NMC. This injunction is followed to this day with purely vegetarian food being served to all Sangha members. HH Chadral Rinpoche  and Tarthang Tulku also presented a discourse on the importance of the Vajra seat in the Sutryana and Vajrayana traditions.

The first three to four years of the NMC were organised by Tarthang Shedra, Katmandu headed by Payul Choktrul Rinpoche and Khenpo Rigzin Dorje and his Sangha members. This function was extended to other Nyingma Monasteries namely: Payul Thegchok Namdroling Monastery of HH Penor Rinpoche, Mindroling Monastery, Shechen Tennyi Thargaylinh Monastery, Dzogchen Monastery of Dzogchen Rinpoche, Payul Chokhorling Monastery of Ringu Tulku, Simla Dorjedak Monastery, Chokling Monastery and various Nyingma monasteries from Sikkim , Bhutan and Nepal .

The number of Nyingma sangha participants also grew progressively year after year. At first there were about seven to eight hundred participants but by the third year the number had crossed two thousand to include participants from different parts of India , Nepal , Sikkim and Bhutan . At the turn of the century, the number was four to five thousand strong, thus posing a serious logistical challenge, especially with regards to making arrangements for their accommodation. During those early years the organisers and participants had to make do by hiring giant-sized tents and booking local hotels. This led to the decision at the Board meeting of the Working Committee to buy land and begin constructing hostels with immediate effect. By 2005 the number of sangha participants had reached seven thousand and at the present time the number of monks, nuns and ngakpas participating at the NMC has topped ten thousand.

 The extremely kind and generous gesture of HE Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in donating a plot of land to the NMC was the first step in the commencement of the building project. This was augmented by the further purchase of land in the vicinity and work began with the laying of the foundation stone in the late 90's. The hostels were intended to accommodate ten thousand Sangha members through the duration of the busy Annual World Peace ceremony of the NMC. They would be comprised of three main blocks to accommodate the Khenpos and Tulkus in one, the Anis or Nuns in another, and the Sangha monk members in the third. At the start of the new millenium, with the construction already under way, Sangha members were able to be accommodated in the partially completed areas. The second and third blocks are now almost complete and the construction of the first block meant for the Khenpos and Tulkus is still in progress.

The main Temple hall or Lhakhang was completed last year and larger than life sized statues of Guru Padmasambhava and Buddha Shakya muni were installed within. The Lhakhang was inaugurated in the presence of HH Penor Rinpoche, HH Tsetul Rinpoche, HE Rabjam Rinpoche, HE Kathok Getse Rinpoche, HE Minling Khenchen and many other enlightened Tulkus, Khenpos and Sangha members who conducted the consecration ceremony under most auspicious circumstances.

For the past nineteen years the kitchen has been operating under temporary conditions in the hostel. A programme is under way to construct a permanent kitchen (SOL-THAB) at a suitable location within the NMC compound.

Seating arrangements within the temple premises during the Puja sessions are as follows:

1.   Seating at the south and west of the Main Temple is reserved for the ordained monks    i.e. Gelong and Getsul.
2. Seating at the Northern side of the Temple is reserved for the Ngakpas and Gomchens.
3. Seating at the eastern side of the Temple is reserved for the ordained nuns and jomos.

 Maintenance of proper ethical discipline is encouraged and Disciplinarians (Geykos) are appointed to monitor their respective areas to ensure a tranquil environment conducive to prayer and contemplation within the premises.

As devotees of the incomparable Guru Rinpoche we owe a debt of gratitude to HH Penor Rinpoche for his wise and compassionate leadership and support to the continual growth and success of the NMC. His unfailing presence and blessings at the NMC World Peace Ceremony inspires confidence and stability. Our profound reverence and gratitude also goes to our patron and principal founding father of the NMC, Tarthang Tulku for his untiring efforts in the preservation and propagation of the Nyingma tradition. We are also deeply grateful to Ladhakh Choje Tulku for his generous support towards the running of the Monlam Chenmo ceremony.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Bhu Tsering and Cho Dinsang who have taken over all responsibility for the Hostel Construction Project. Their generosity in terms of time, effort and dedication to the project for the past nineteen years deserves our special appreciation.

Nyingma Monasteries located in India , Nepal , Tibet , Bhutan , Sikkim and internationally are all eligible to be registered in The Nyingma Monlam Chenmo Internationl Foundation, Bodhgaya.

 How and where to apply:

Application should be addressed to the Head Office, NMC:

Nyingma Monlam Chenmo
Namdroling Nyingma Monastery,
Bylakuppe, District Mysore ,
571104, Karnataka, South India .

The following details of the monastery are to be provided clearly:

1.  Name of the monastery together with a photograph.
2.  Founder, President and director of the monastery.
3.  Lineages from the Nyingma tradition which are followed, (viz. Do-Min, She-Dzog, Ka-Pal etc.)
4.  Sadhanas that are practised on the occasions of Tsechu and Nyer-nga as well as during other significant dates in the annual calender.
5.  Number of Sangha members in the community i.e. monks, nuns, ngakpas etc.
6.  Whether or not the Gonpa runs a Shedra or Dupdra.
7.  A certificate or letter of introduction from a recognised Nyingma Rinpoche in the area to verify that the Gonpa genuinely follows the Nyingma tradition. This is of particular importance.

Applications may be submitted from the 9th month of the Tibetan calender onwards leading up to the Monlam in Bodhgaya. Please enquire during the Monlam to check if your application was received at the Head Office, NMC.

The last nineteen years have seen most of the major Nyingma Monasteries officially registered in the NMC International Foundation. The total number of registrations to date has crossed eleven hundred. However, there are still 528 applications that are pending due to incomplete information or which require further authentication before they can be included and registered in the list of officially registered Nyingma monasteries.

The Central Head Office of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo is located at HH Penor Rinpoche's Namdroling Nyingma Monastery, Bylakuppe, in Mysore , South India .

The Honorary Life Members of the NMC International Foundation include all the Great Masters and Enlightened Lineage Holders of the Nyingma tradition within Tibet and internationally. The foundation is administered by the constituted governing body as follows:

1.  President :    HH Penor Rinpoche.
2.  Vice Presidents :   HH Trushik Rinpoche, HH Chatral Rinpoche, HH Tsetul Rinpoche, HE Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, HE Dzogchen Rinpoche, HE Minling Khenchen Rinpoche, HE Kathok Getse Rinpoche, Tarthang Tulku, Ladakh Choje Tulku, Sogyal Rinpoche and Ralo Rinpoche.
3.  Chief Treasurers:  Khorchen Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and Dakpa Lama.
4.  General Secretary : Chagzod chenpo of HH Penor Rinpoche.
5.  Members :  Lachung Rinpoche,  Nangzey Dorjela,  Tulku Ajam,  Khenpo Chowang, Khenpo Sanggay Rangjung,  Khenpo Tamdin  Lopon Tseten, Bhu Tsering and Cho Dinsang.

The Governing Body of the NMC meets annually during the Nyingma Monlam at Bodh gaya . The meeting is chaired by HH Penor Rinpoche and attended by all the members of the governing body. Topics of discussion include the preservation, consolidation and propagation of the Buddha Dharma in general with emphasis on the Nyingma tradition. Current issues and future developments are included in the agenda. The meeting is usually scheduled during the 7th or 8th day of the Monlam and concludes with an official dinner.

The Grand General Meeting is held on the 9th day of the Monlam at the Main Lhakhang of the NMC.The President, Vice Presidents and other Nyingma masters chair the meeting and two authorised monks from each Nyingma Monastery are required to participate. Annual reports of the Dharma activities of our Enlightened Lamas involving the preservation and propagation of Guru Padma's tradition all over the world are presented before the congregation, including future plans for the upliftment of the Nyingma community and tradition.

The organisers also present detailed accounts of the incomes and expenditures incurred during the Monlam to the gatherings. The meeting concludes with His Holiness communicating his annual message and bestowing his blessings on all those participating at the Monlam.

The success of the Monlam year upon year has been in large part due to the ability and effort of all the participants to take collective responsibility and work together effectively. We certainly derive our inspiration from Guru Padmasambhava's lineage with motivation and commitment that is true and sincere, which is directed towards achieving peace, happiness and the longevity of the Dharma in this world.