The Spring Course 2006 was special in many ways this year. It was the first time we met in the main shrine hall instead of the Tara room at Benchen Phuntsok Dargy Ling monastery. This was necessary because of the extraordinary number of His Eminense Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche's and Tenga Rinpoche's students who had made their way to Kathmandu from many parts of the world to start the pilgrimage to the holy places of India, by participating in Rinpoche's annual Spring Course. Tenga Rinpoche taught on "the five points of Mahamudra" by the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje. We were doubly fortunate to also enjoy teachings from HE Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. Rinpoche discussed an explanation in 8 points of Mikyo Dorgi's 4 session's Guru Yoga by Karma Chagme, which HH Dilgo Kyensy Rinpoche had taught to him. The spring course concluded with a visit to the sacred places at Pharping and the Clear Light Retreat Centre where the two Rinpoches had put another group of monks into the three year retreat only a few weeks earlier. Tenga Rinpoche took this opportunity to give us teachings on developing loving kindness and compassion to all sentient beings He stressed the importance of paying back all the kindness shown to us by all our mother sentient beings.

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On the 29th of April Tenga Rinpoche and students from Kathmandu joined with those coming directly from Europe in Delhi to form an entourage of over 200 people. Tenga Rinpoche and his attendants left by train and car on the 30th and the rest of us set out on that evening for an overnight bus trip to Dharamshala. The next day we boarded our buses again for the short journey to Gyuto Monastery to take teachings and the Chenrezig initiation from HH the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Orgyen Trinly Dorje. This was not only a wonderful start to our pilgrimage but also the highlight. His Holiness started by welcoming us all, He then made reference to those of us who had met the 16th Karmapa previously and said, with a wide smile, "I would like to welcome you now". His teachings were direct and to the point. He spoke of the importance of putting into practice the teachings we have received in order to fulfill our bodhisattva vows and benefiting sentient beings in all our actions. His Holiness gave the Chenrezig empowerment and paid particular attention to the meaning of the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hung", which he said should be understood as the union of skillful means and wisdom. As a part of the samaya he asked us all to recite this mantra on a daily basis with this understanding. Following individual blessings to each of us, His Holiness offered us a delicious lunch. We were very reluctant to leave Gyuto and the presence of our Kagyu Linage Leader who radiates such strength and compassion for all beings. The next day was free for individuals to explore Mc Loud Gange, to circumambulate His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's monastery and residence and in some lucky cases to catch a glimpse of him in person.

The next stop was Sherab Ling monastery where we had the opportunity of witnessing His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche performing the Red Crown ceremony. Situ Rinpoche also very generously gave us teachings. He started by asking us to consider why we called ourselves Buddhists. He suggested that the only reason to call oneself a Buddhist was the desire to follow the Buddha's teachings in order to achieve full Buddha hood for ourselves and others. He went on to praise the qualities of our root gurus, HE Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Tenga Rinpoche. He stated several times that we had in our teachers all the attributes and qualities required to take us to full enlightenment. He inspired us to bring a sense of humor and joy into our view of samsara and to keep this in mind as we diligently practice the Buddhist teachings.

The final pilgrimage stop was Tso Pemma. On the evening we arrived, Tenga Rinpoche gave an explanation of why TsoPema is considered to be such an important Guru Rinpoche power place and led us in a short Guru Rinpoche prayer in the park beside the lake. Many of the Tibetans and others who were performing kora around the lake stopped to listen and spontaneously went to Rinpoche to offer katak and receive his blessing. Lho Ontul Rinpoch and his wife, Tashie Drolma of the Drikung Kagyu Monastery in TsoPema, offered Tenga Rinpoche hospitality during our stay. The monastery was very hospitable by providing us with considerable assistance during our stay. The next morning some of us took our buses and others walked up the mountain side to the Guru Rinpoche cave where he and Mandarava had meditated in previous times. Nowadays the caves in the area are inhabited by yogis doing retreat, several of them have been there since they fled Tibet in the early 1960's. They are guided by Lama Wangdor who warmly welcomed Tenga Rinpoche and gave him hospitality. The caves resounded to the Guru Rinpoche mantra as we passed through and had the opportunity to stay for a short time. The anies who look after the retreatants offered us tea and khapse and we in return offered butter lamps and offerings to those doing recreants there. They also collected offerings towards a large Guru Rinpoche statue that is currently being built overlooking the lake further down the valley.

That evening we once again gathered beside the lake to perform a The Guru Rinpoche Shower of Blessings Tsok puja. Our numbers for this were nearly doubled by the locals who also participated in this final stage of the pilgrimage. Following the puja as we all offered Rinpoche khataks it was with great joy and also a little sadness that we did so. We had all participated in an extraordinary experience under the guidance of our Rinpoche and our pilgrimage was nearing a conclusion. The kindness of Tenga Rinpoche was evident throughout the journey and we all felt immense gratitude and devotion to him.

Early the next morning some of us returned to McLeod Gang and the rest of us left for Delhi to travel on to our home countries. Tenga Rinpoche stayed for a few days more to do a short retreat before returning to Gyuto Monastery where he will spend some time with HH 17th Karmapa.