The 10th Kagyu Mynlam Poland was held at the centre in Grabnik from the 30th of August to the 1st of September 2019. As in recent years, Venerable Sangter Rinpoche presided over it.

As every year, the Kagyu Monlam Committee in Bodh Gaya appointed specially trained Chant Master (Umdze) and two Torma Masters (Chöpons). The Monlam Umdze establishes the prayer schedule and leads all the chants. Chöpon’s responsibility is to look after the ritual side of the ceremonies. Among others, chöpons prepare tormas – traditional offerings made of dough, according to a strictly defined pattern, richly decorated with multicolored butter ornaments. Such tormas are then placed on the altar, among flowers, fruit and other offerings.

This time we were visited by: Umdze Karma Gjurme from the Diljak Monastery, Ciepyn Lama Szierab Tharcin from the Nenang Monastery and Ciepyn Dysum Gjurme from the Tergar Monastery – all from Kathmandu. We also had the precious opportunity to host Khenpo Damcie Dala and monks and lamas from Benchen Monastery in Nepal. Numerous Polish lamas and many Polish and foreign lay practitioners also participated in the prayers.

Daily in the first session Khenpo Damcie Dala conducted the sojong vows. The next sessions were similar to the previous years.

On the first day, during the second session, there was a solemn procession with the portrait of His Holiness Karmapa. After circumambulating the temple, the portrait was placed on the throne and Sangter Rinpoche offered to Karmapa the Mandala of the Universe and the symbols of the awakened Body, Speech, Mind, Ability and Activity. Then the representatives from Grabnik Centre offered the Mandala of the Universe to Sangter Rinpoche himself.

On the second day, in the morning session, Sangter Rinpoche bestowed Guru Rinpoche Sampa Lhyndrub (Spontaneously Fulfilling Wishes) empowerment. Then in the afternoon, Sangter Rinpoche performed the “Ritual for Deceased” (jang chok). Prior to that everyone was offered the opportunity to submit the names of any deceased relatives and friends onto a list compiled for this reason. According to Buddhist tradition, a donation is made on behalf of those who have passed away. It helps them to establish a closer connection with Dharma and accumulate merit. This is particularly beneficial for beings in the intermediate state of the bardo, as well as for future rebirths.

On the third day, following “A Ritual of Offerings to the Gurus” (Lama Chöpa) which included tsok offering, there was a special ceremony of offering the auspicious substances, attributes and symbols of prosperity to the participants. When this particular ceremony is held in Bodh Gaya, significant sponsors of the Kagyu Monlam are touched directly with the pictures that symbolise the auspicious substances. Every year we also invite people who in particular support the Centre in Grabnik, not only financially. Those who participate in this ceremony receive blessings for everything to be auspicious, for positive circumstances to arise and for prosperity to increase.