The Tradition

The tradition of holding extensive summer and winter teachings has continued without decline since the time of Drikyung Kyopa Jigten Sumgon – the Dharma king of three worlds. Later, with Trinley Zangpo, the 26th throne holder,the institution of four teaching – the Monkey Year Teaching, the Boar Year Teachings, the Horse Year Teachings and the Snake Year Teachings was established and became widespread in land of snow.
Traditionally, during the Monkey Year, the throne holder, H.H the Drikung Kyabgon transmits the special close lineage of the Drikung Kagyu: Lord Jigten Sumgon’s Great Arising of Bodhichitta, the Great Drikung Phowa, and so forth.
Following this revered tradition, His Holiness will bestow the elaborate Monkey Year Teachings this year at Jangchubling Monastery in  India, the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu lineage.

Special Announcement

Drikyung Kagyu Teaching Committee announced on January 19, 2016 that the Monkey Year Teachings will now be bestowed for four days from Feb 16-19 instead of the previous starting date of Feb 14.The committee further explains in their Special Announcement that the change was triggered by a short notice they received from the office of the Drikung Labrang informing  that the supreme head, H.H the Drikung Kaybgon Chetsang Rinpoche is required to attend an important event elsewhere on February 14 and 15, 2016.
However, for the sake of all the participants coming from other states or countries, the supreme and accomplished  Siddha Dorzin Drubwang Dondrup Palden, who has spent over two decades in retreat in the snow mountains of Lapchi, the special practice place of Jetsun Milarepa – and who possesses perfect realization of the ultimate lineage, will grant experiential instructions of the common and uncommon preliminaries, on Februay 14 and 15, 2016 at the College for Higher Studies . The committee hopes that eveyone will be able to attend this auspicious occassion.

The Teaching Program

February 16, 2016
Explanation of taking refuge, which is the entrance to the teachings
Bestowal of the refuge vows, which belong to the outer individual liberatoin vows
Bestowal of Lord Jigten Sumgon’s Great Arising of Bodhichitta, which belongs to the inner bodhisattva vows.

February 17, 2016
Teachings on the distinction between the sutra and the tantra vehicles
The preparatory stages of the Great Empowerment of Hevajra according to Marpa’s system

February 18, 2016
Bestowal of the main part of the Great Empowerment of Hevajra according to Marpa’s system
Practice instruction and reading transmission of the Hevarjaritual

February 19, 2016
Transmission of the Great Drikung Phowa
Long-life ceremony for His Holiness
Long-life Empowerment according to the tradition of the Sole Mother, Queen of the Siddhas – Machig Drupe Gyalmo (afternoon)

Omalaya will provide  travel assistance  to Dehradun, India www.OmalayaTravel.com

Tags: Monkey year Teachings, bodhisattva, marpa, Retreat, milarepa, Drikung Kaybgon Chetsang Rinpoche, Teachings, sutra, tantra, Dharma