2016 North American Kagyu Monlam
The 7th North American Kagyu Monlam at Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery was a great success!
We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Very Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche for presiding over the Monlam and for being a shining light of inspiration for us all. Our heartfelt thanks to all the lamas who traveled from far away to attend, and to all who helped in any way to make the Monlam and Maitreya Center possible. Thanks to all who participated in the prayers for peace in person, online or in spirit.
May we all give rise to bodhicitta, the pure intention to awaken for the benefit of all beings.
We look forward to the 8th North American Kagyu Monlam to be hosted in 2017 by the Karma Kagyu Association of Canada in Toronto!
Kagyu Monlam Video Archive
Kagyu Monlam Teachings: A “Virtual Monlam”
We invite you to join us for a “Virtual Kagyu Monlam” experience. You can view each day’s livestream in full, or go to any specific day and follow the links on the dropdown menus to the day’s highlights. These include all the teachings as well as some of the most beautiful and most familiar prayers.
Chanting these profound aspirations along with the deep, resonant voice of the chant leader, in the virtual presence of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Lama Norlha Rinpoche, other great Lamas, and hundreds of ordained and lay practitioners within the majestic space of KTC Monastery’s Maitreya Shrine Hall, is a lovely and powerful way to accumulate merit.
If you don’t already have a copy of The Kagyu Monlam Book, the new hardcover edition used at the 2016 NAKM is available through the KTC bookstore at a cost of $20 plus shipping. The previous paperback edition is available via amazon.com. The prayers are the same, only the page numbers have changed.
With these resources, any day can be a virtual monlam day, or just include a beautiful aspiration prayer.
The Teachings
The four teachings given by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche during the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam are available to view at any time. In particular, if you are looking for a clear, concise and comprehensive introduction to basic meditation, we recommend Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s second teaching: How to Integrate Aspiration and Prayer with Meditation, Part 1: Meditation Instructions and Practice.
2016 Monlam Highlights
2016 NAKM: Day 4 Behind the Scenes
The 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam at Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery wouldn’t begin to be possible without Lama Norlha Rinpoche’s extraordinary vision and sustained effort over many years, from the purchase of the land and incorporation of KTC in … Read More
2016 NAKM: Day 3 Dewachen
I was going to write today that being at the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam is very much like my concept of Dewachen, the pure land of Amitabha in which we aspire to be reborn as soon as we die, a … Read More
2016 NAKM Day 2 Sunday Lotus Light
On Sunday evening, at the close of the final day of the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam, we will chant the Marme Monlam (Butterlamp Aspiration Prayer). It is the custom for each participant to hold a lotus light aloft as the monlam is … Read More
2016 NAKM: Day 2 Teaching by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Today the prayers continued (more on those another day), and the Monlam was featured on page 1 of the Poughkeepsie Journal. There has been a lot of local press interest–this is a big event for Wappingers Falls, and visitors are invariably … Read More
2016 NAKM: Day 1
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 Nothing prepares you for the sheer impact of walking into the Maitreya Center for the first time and seeing the 34-foot Maitreya statue that dominates the main prayer hall. No matter how many photos you’ve seen–it’s much … Read More
Torma: An Offering of Love
For the first time in the history of the North American Kagyu Monlam, Tibetan chöpöns—masters of the art and knowledge of preparing and presenting offerings for ritual ceremonies— have come in advance to prepare the elaborate flour and butter sculpture … Read More
The Chambu Ritual
At the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam, Kagyu Thubten Chöling will observe the special tradition of offering chambu after the noon meal each day. The chambu offering with its accompanying chanted verses was transmitted by Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche, and … Read More
Important Notice to All Traveling to the 2016 NAKM via Metro-North Trains
Due to conflicts between the Metro North Hudson Line train schedule and the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam schedule we will be unable to provide morning shuttle service between the New Hamburg train station and Kagyu Thubten Chöling. On weekdays, … Read More
Bringing Buddhist Traditions Together in the Kagyu Monlam
The Kagyu Monlam was originally instituted in the 15th century by the Seventh Gyalwang Karmapa, Chödrak Gyatso, as a gathering for followers of the Kagyu lineage. Beginning with Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche, who re-established the Monlam at Bodhgaya in … Read More
Bringing the World Together to Pray for World Peace
Practitioners from across the world will join voices at the 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam in July at Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery to pray for all beings everywhere to enjoy peace, harmony, and freedom from suffering. We’ve received registrations from … Read More
A rare opportunity to join in the aspiration toward Manifest Joy
Many Buddhists are familiar with prayers to be reborn in the western Pure Land of Bliss (known Sanskrit as Sukhavati, in Tibetan as Dewachen, and in Chinese Jílè, Ānlè, or Xītiān) where Amitabha, the Wisdom Buddha of Limitless Light, teaches … Read More
Daily Chanting of the Twenty-Branch Monlam: What Is Its Significance?
Each morning of the Kagyu Monlam, after the Sojong vows and Sanskrit prayers, the assembly will chant the Twenty-Branch Monlam. This sequence of profound aspiration prayers has been chanted for more than five hundred years, since the Seventh Karmapa, Chödrak … Read More
Weekend Registration Options
We are pleased to announced that registration is now open to those only able to participate in the final weekend of this year’s North American Kagyu Monlam. Participants now have the option to register for Friday, July 8 – Sunday, … Read More
Why are some prayers at the Kagyu Monlam chanted in Sanskrit?
The North American Kagyu Monlam draws practitioners from many different Buddhist traditions, lineages, nationalities—and also non-Buddhist faiths. During the Monlam, most of the daily prayers will be recited in Tibetan, while others will be also chanted in English, Chinese, and … Read More
Make Friends with your Mind
It’s a bit astonishing, in fact, to discover how shy the mind becomes when you offer to make friends with it. Thoughts and feelings that seemed so powerful and solid vanish almost as soon as they appear, like puffs of … Read More
Maitreya Buddha Statue
The Maitreya Buddha statue adorns the main hall of the Maitreya Center, the site of the upcoming 2016 North American Kagyu Monlam. The throne upon which the Maitreya Buddha statue is seated is backed by an arched frame sculpted with … Read More
Ku Sung Tuk
The ritual offering of the Ku Sung Tuk is made to the presiding lama of the Kagyu Monlam, who this year will be Venerable Mingyur Rinpoche. Ku Sung Tuk is Tibetan for enlightened body, speech, and mind. They are symbolized … Read More