250 Years of Palpung Monlam tradition in Tibet

THE GREAT PALPUNG MONLAM CHENMO was established by the eighth Kenting Tai Situpa Choekyi Jungney who founded Palpung Thubten Choekhor Ling Monastic Seat in the Kingdom of Derge in 1727. Since then, Palpung Monlam Chenmo has continued throughout many generations. This is a special ten-day prayer practice held in the first month of each lunar calendar year (Bumgyur Dawa); a special moment of the year when all activities generate karma that is one hundred thousand times stronger than normal.

The Palpung Monlam text

Palpung Monlam Chenmo mainly consists of reciting the KAMTSANG CHOECHOD CHENMO text. The main body of this text contains supplications starting with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and all the Lineage masters. It also contains all the aspiration prayers and the King of Aspiration Prayers, ZANGPO CHODPI MONLAM, which is close to two hundred pages in total. All this is recited as many times as possible during the ten day practice.

The evolution of Monlam Chenmo in India

In more recent times, the Palpung Monlam Chenmo has been held every year at the second seat of the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa, Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat, since its establishment in India in 1975. The Monlam Chenmo traditionally starts on the 9th day of the First month of Lunar Calendar and goes through the 18th day, for ten days (BUMGYUR DAWA). Throughout these ten days, one hundred and ten thousand (110,000) butter lamps are offered. Furthermore, one thousand (1,000) butter lamps are also offered every day throughout the year, every year, at Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat.

In addition, many of the other great masters who came from Palpung also continued this practice even though they found themselves spread far and wide across the globe. For example, His Eminence the late Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and His Eminence the late Kalu Rinpoche put enormous effort into preserving this tradition outside historic Tibet. His Eminence, the late Kalu Rinpoche was the retreat master at Palpung Thubten Choekhor Ling retreat centers, and was appointed by the 11th Kenting Tai Situ Pema Wangchok Gyalpo.

Kalu Rinpoche continued the Monlam Chenmo tradition in India until his passing in 1989. At the request of His Eminence the late Kalu Rinpoche, the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa often participated in these Monlam Chenmos when his schedule permitted, and the now late Very Venerable Bokhar Rinpoche carried on this great dharma activity for many years after His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche’s Parinirvana.

Sustaining the Monlam tradition

In 1999, the Very Venerable Bokhar Rinpoche accompanied by Khenpo Lodoe Dhonyoe came to see the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa during a visit to Siliguri. At that time, Bokhar Rinpoche expressed that the Monlam Chenmo had been very purely continued up to that point mainly as a result of the blessings of the late Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche and also as a result of sincere support over the years, from various sponsors. He expressed that it had functioned very well in this very pure and Dharmic fashion and that after each Monlam, with nothing left to cling to and everything so pure; it was never a problem to get more sponsors. However, he felt that if the Kagyu Monlam were to be continued for a longer time, that finding sponsors and so many other kinds of support was not guaranteed. So with that in mind, Bokhar Rinpoche suggested that the 1999 Kagyu Monlam should be the last one and that it could be done in a more elaborate fashion and could coincide with the anniversary of the Parinirvana of the late Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche.

The 12th Kenting Tai Situpa responded to the Very Venerable Bokhar Rinpoche, 'In the past, all these years, the Kagyu Monlam has been very successful in the Dharma, because of the efforts of His Eminence, the late Kalu Rinpoche and also as a result of your own efforts Rinpoche. However, in the future the Kagyu Monlam will be beneficial not just for the Kagyu Lineage but also for Humanity and for the world at-large. Therefore the Kagyu Monlam must continue. Sponsors will come. But should there ever, for any reason, not be enough sponsors and if financially supporting the Kagyu Monlam becomes too difficult, I will try my best to support this good cause.'

As a result of the encouragement and blessing he received from Kenting Tai Situpa that day, the late Very Venerable Bokhar Rinpoche decided to continue the Kagyu Monlam. Over these past years many members of the Palpung Sherabling Monastic seat have served the Kagyu Monlam, helping Lama Karma Choedak, with the continued blessing of the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa.

The Monlam Chenmo tradition today

The collective positive causes and conditions generated from this activity, have made the Kagyu Monlam a great service to Humanity and to world peace. It has also become an accessible way for people to receive blessings and teachings from His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, the Supreme Head of Kagyu Lineage. Through his recent Buddha activity, the recent 25th Anniversary of the Kagyu Monlam was a magnificent celebration which took place in Bodhgaya for the benefit of all sentient　beings and to heal the environment of this planet Earth.

This year (2008), at Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat, the Palpung Monlam Chenmo started later than usual, as many of the monks of Palpung Sherabling went to Bodhgaya with Kenting Tai Situpa Rinpoche for the recent consecration of Tergar Monastery. As a result, the Palpung Monlam started on the 15th day of the first lunar month (2/22) and ends on the 25th (3/3), thus steadfastly carrying on this sacred and vital 250-year-old tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings.

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