Update from Benchen Committee Members July 7, 2015
Sherab Wangchuck sent youtube video on the occasion
This year the joyous celebration of H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa's birthday took place with H.E Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and all the Benchen monks, who gathered at Banchen Nangten Thoesum Ling Shedra in Pharping. This year H.H. Karmapa's birthday was particularly auspicious as it coincided with the Guru Rinpoche day of the fifth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. The ceremony started with prayers to Shakyamuni Buddha and the puja of The 16 Arhats. H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche then made a mandala offering and the body, speech and mind offering to H.H. Karmapa. Following this the Khenpos, Dorje Lopons, other monks and lay sangha all made khatak offerings to the beautiful photograph of the 17th Karmapa. This was placed in front of the newly consecrated statue of H.H. 16th Karmapa in the Shedra.
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Khenpo Konchok Lhakyab who has recently returned to Benchen Monastery following ten years intensive study at Palpung Shedra for Higher Buddhist Studies. This shedra was established at Sherab Ling Monastery by H.E. Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche in India. H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche presented a certificate acknowledging Khenpo's achievement of his studies in the inner sciences and then everyone present offered khatak. That this occurred on such a favourable day made this a very auspicious occasion
H.H. Karmapa's birthday culminated in the consumption of a delicious birthday cake.