Phodong Monastery prepares to receive Karmapa for Lhabab Duechen

KRC HOPEFUL TO MAKE ‘KARMAPA 900 YEARS’ CELEBRATION SPECIAL FOR SIKKIM
PHODONG, 16 Oct: A special meeting was convened at the Phodong Monastery here today in preparation for the 900th birth anniversary of the first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, which the monastery plans to celebrate in grand fashion coinciding with Lhabab Duechen [17 November].
Lined up as part of the celebrations is the installation of a statue of the first Karmapa at Phodong Monastery and what has the devout in Sikkim even more hopeful this year is the Karmapa Reception Committee’s plans to invite Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje to Phodong for the occasion to install the statue and offer Kawang over two days to the general public at the monastery.
The meeting was being chaired by the Dorjee Lopen of Phodong Monastery and began with special prayers by the monks in gathering.
Delivering his welcome speech, the KRC general secretary [North], Karma Tshering Bhutia, updated the meeting about KRC’s activities thus far and set the agenda for the meeting.
The KRC presidet, Chewang Lama, underlined that the KRC was formed with the single-point agenda to bring the XVIIth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje to his home in exile, Sikkim [where his predecessor established the Karma Kagyu seat in exile] and expressed gratitude towards the State government for supporting their cause and informed that the Chief Minister has already cleared their request [to invite the Karmapa to Sikkim] and recommended it to the Union Home Minister.
He stressed that the Karmapa was not only an important figure of Buddhism but a religious leader of immense significance to Sikkim and the Sikkimese. The lineage’s special connection with Sikkim, cemented by the XVIth Karmapa, was the reason why support for KRC was coming in from all parts of Sikkim and all people, he commented.
The KRC president also rued the fact that despite the unanimous demand of the Sikkimese people to have the Karmapa in their midst, the Centre, which allows he Karmapa to travel to all parts of India, including nearby Darjeeling district, was refusing his permission to be among his followers here.
The Karmapa, he said, was a ‘Dharma Guru’ of Sikkim and stressed that it was unfair on his followers here to be refused his audience in Sikkim.
He further informed that Sikkim and the Karmapa shared an intimate bond which can never be severed.
About the presence of Karma Kagyu Buddhism in Sikkim, he informed that this dates back to the 17th Century when the three monasteries of Ralang in South Sikkim, Old Rumtek in East Sikkim and Phodong in North Sikkim were established with the blessings of and on the directions of the 12th Karamapa, Changchop Dorje, on the invitation of the 4th Chogyal, Gyurmed Namgyal.
“The devotees and the people of Sikkim have been blessed through generations by the Karmapas and strongly believe that it was our good karma to be so strongly associated with the Karmapa, an enlightened being and our devotion transcends this temporal world and sees him as a guiding light for all future well being,” he said.
The meeting was also addressed by Geyching Bhutia and KT Bhutia (general secretaries of the KRC), NT Bhutia (treasurer) representatives of the monasteries and other dignitaries.
The Phodong Monastery has begun preparations in earnest for the 17 November event and formed several sub-committees with different tasks.
Today, the KRC, including the monk body, also inspected earthquake damage to the monastery and the accommodation facilities.
It was also decided that a KRC delegation will leave for Delhi after meeting the Chief Minister and requesting him to take up their request afresh with the Centre.
The representatives of different monasteries from across the State and representatives from various NGOs, including the Phodong Welfare Association, Rongong Youth Club etc. participated in today’s meeting.
Later, while speaking to NOW!, the KRC president informed that the Karmapa has been invited to Phodong Monastery [instead of his seat in Rumtek] because of the litigation still underway over Rumtek Monastery. The tentative itinerary for the Karamapa’s visit [prepared in consultation with the Karmapa’s Office in Daramsala] has him arriving in Sikkim on 14 November and staying here till 01 December. As per the plans, he will visit the various monasteries of the State except Rumtek.
The Karma Kagyu community is celebrating the 900th anniversary of the Karmapa lineage this year. The Karmapa lineage is the oldest in Tibetan Buddhism, the one which started the practise of reincarnations which forms the backbone of Tibetan Buddhism as we know it today.