This is also the day when different monasteries exchange traditional kapsi, scarves and sweets to show their respect and to make wishes for the well being of the Rinpoches of the respective monasteries as well as their dharma communities.Benchen News Letter
In the monasteries as well as in all the Tibetan communities, the New Year is celebrated in a very respectful and special manner. It was observed in such a manner in Benchen Monastery here in Kathmandu as well as in the Benchen Monastery centers in the West. Especially for the Tibetan communities, the New Year celebration is a time when the whole family comes together to pay their respects to each other. It is because of this tradition that, for many years now, both Rinpoches have given the monks a one-month holiday so that they could return to their respective homes for family reunions. Within this tradition, as a matter of respect, the younger ones are the first to go to the elder relatives to pay their respects and to wish them the best for the New Year. Therefore, on the very first day of the New Year many of the disciples of the Rinpoches come to pay their respects and to wish the Rinpoches long life.
This is also the day when different monasteries exchange traditional kapsi, scarves and sweets to show their respect and to make wishes for the well being of the Rinpoches of the respective monasteries as well as their dharma communities.
In Benchen Monastery, the New Year begins with the chanting of auspicious prayers, followed by the offering of khataks by both the Rinpoches and the monks to the thrones of His Holiness Dalai Lama and His Holiness Karmapa.
It is a strong tradition within Tibetan monasteries to perform the annualintensive protector pujas with lama dances at the end of 12th month of the lunar calendar, and the same tradition is followed here in Benchen Monastery. This puja lasts for eight days and the last two days of the puja start from very early in the morning and finish with lama dances. It is a very powerful blessing to observe the dances, and for this reason many people from the Kathmandu valley come to receive the blessings of the dances. At the same time, they know that the observance of such dances helps to eliminate all kinds of obstacles so that the coming year may be prosperous and successful. The dances are also a reminder that the Tibetan New Year is close at hand so the people are joyful and excited.
Such great pujas are performed here in Benchen Monastery accurately and wonderfully through the special guidance of His Eminence Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Vajra Master Venerable Tenga Rinpoche. They are always so kind to tirelessly share such profound knowledge with the monks, and all the monks of Benchen Monastery deeply appreciate their kindnesses.
The first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar is a very special month and is know as bumgyur dawa, or ‘the multiplying month’, which means that all actions are multiplied by 100,000 and practice in emphasized. Following the tradition of Benchen Monastery in Tibet, Benchen Monastery in Kathmandu has been performing the recitation of the monlam prayer for five days during bumgyur dawa. Since this month is so special, the Karma Kargyu Welfare Society has, for the past few years, been organizing the Monlam Prayer, and each year it is held in one of the participating Kargyu monasteries.
All of the monks eagerly look forward to this puja. Even though the monks from Benchen monastery have been given a one-month holiday for the Tibetan New Year, most of them return early so that they can participate in the sangchod monlam prayer for world peace.
