38th Kagyu Monlam ceremony with Tai Situ Rinpoche at Bodh Gaya

In a significant and unprecedented event, the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, Pema Dönyö Nyinche (also known as Guru Vajradhara), commenced the 38th Kagyu Monlam ceremony (commonly referred to as the red crown ceremony) on January 16, 2024, in the revered Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya.

The students of Tai Situ Rinpoche, such as Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Gyalton Rinpoche, arrived in Bodh Gaya on January 10th and were welcomed by Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga.

The ceremony is currently taking place and will continue for 11 days from January 14th to 25th.

Buddhist scholar Adele Tomlin has provided a contextual understanding of the significance of the Kagyu Monlam event in relation to the ongoing issues within the Kagyu-pa lineage.

Followers of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and the Karma Kagyu community were thrilled that Tai Situpa, who was personally invited by the 17th Karmapa, was finally able to lead the Kagyu Monlam ceremony in Bodh Gaya.

This was the first time he was allowed to perform this sacred ritual within the Karma Kagyu lineage in Bodh Gaya.

References

• THE KAGYU ‘RED CROWN THAT LIBERATES ON SEEING’: The black and red crowns of Karma Kagyu by 1st Jamgon Kongtrul and 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche’s historic ‘red crown’ ceremony in Bodh Gaya, January 2024 (with transcript of teaching by Mingyur and Gyalton Rinpoches)
• The 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche Holds Historic “Red Crown” Kagyu Monlam Chenmo at Bodh Gaya