Kopan Monastery: FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 1 2010
ESTABLISHED BY JE TSONG KHAPA in Tibet, the Great Prayer Festival
(Monlam Chenmo) brought together in prayer tens of thousands of monks and nuns
of different lineages from all over Tibet. It also gave lay Tibetans an
opportunity to make offerings to the holy beings
and the sangha.
The first 14 days of the Tibetan new year celebrate the days Buddha performed miracles, with the 15th being the Day of Miracles. On March 4th, Monlam Chenmo ends with a procession in which a statue of Maitreya Buddha is escorted by the sangha and the lay community to the holy Boudhanath Stupa. There special prayers are made to Maitreya Buddha, requesting him to come quickly to lead all sentient beings to the state of enlightenment.
The main purpose for Monlam Chenmo is to pray for the long lives of our gurus, the flourishing of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace. The prayers, offered with strong faith and devotion, help to bring these about.
More than 1800 monastics will again gather at Kopan for teachings and
prayers this year. During Monlam Chenmo, food, tea and cash is offered to the
sangha every day. The Most Venerable Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin, the
Ex-abbot of Gyume Tantric College and next Ganden Tripa, will be teaching every
day during Monlam.
The Offerings to the Sangha Assembly:
- Food offering per monk/nun per day =
US $ 1
- Cash offering per monk/nun per day = US $ 1
We also invite you to sponsor the following pujas (U$ 150 each):
- White Umbrella Deity
- Tara Praises
- Monlam Namgyel (8 Auspicious Prayers)
- Heart Sutra
- On the main day, an extensive Guru Puja with Tsog offering will be held.
Minimum contribution to tsog is US 100
The dedication of sponsors will be read aloud during the sessions on all five days.
Please contribute towards this auspicious event.
Payments and dedications should be received by the 22nd Febuary, to facilitate the preparation of the offerings.
Payment can be made in the following ways:
- Directly through the Kopan web site: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/
forms/sponsor.html - Through our Paypal link: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/
donations_payments.html - In USA Cheques made payable to FPMT Inc can be sent to FPMT International office, 1632 SE 11th Avenue, Portland OR 97214-4702, USA. Please mark it: Att kopan account, Monlam 10
With heartfelt thanks & best wishes for a wonderful year ahead,
Please paste the offering section and your dedication into an email or word file and send together with the payment.
My contribution towards the Great Prayer Festival
“The main thing for success is to practice generosity, making offerings to the guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and practicing generosity and kindness toward sentient beings.” ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Name: _____________________________ Email:
______________________________
Address:
______________________________
Telephone: _________________________ (O/H) _____________________________ (H/P)
You may contribute
to any one or more of the
following:
General offering (any amount)
Food offerings
Cash offering to Sangha (any amount)
Pujas (US $ 150 for each puja)
- White Umbrella Deity (Dukkar)
- Tara Praises
- Monlam Namgyal (including King of Prayers)
- Recitation of Heart Sutra many times
- Tsog for Guru Puja (min US$100)
Dedication (please tick and write name/s on the line provided)
Health
____________________________
Career _______________________
Studies
_____________________________
Others
____________________________
Please return this form to: