Planting the Seed of the Gelug Monlam in the West
Since 1998, the Gelug Monlam, known as the Great Prayer Festival, has been held at Kopan Monastery in Nepal, following the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, who founded the festival in 1409.
Celebrated in the first Tibetan month of the year, during the “Fifteen Days of Miracles,” it culminates with the full moon on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, which is Chotrul Duchen day.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche envisioned Western Sangha, particularly Nalanda Sangha, attending the Monlam Chenmo in Nepal in 2020.
Rinpoche discussed with Nalanda the possibility of organizing a Monlam Chenmo in France.
In 2020, Nalanda monks learned the prayers from Geshe Sherab-la, the umze (chant leader) of Kopan, who has led Monlam Chenmo for many years, and the Kopan monks who serve as the second umze.
This year, Rinpoche’s wishes manifested at Nalanda Monastery when they organized their first Gelug Monlam from February 23rd to 25th, 2024. Ven. Thubten Sherab, Nalanda’s Director, shares the details.
