The 24th Kagyu Guncho in Bodhgaya
The inaugural Kagyu Guncho took place in 1997, organized by Venerable Choje Lama Phuntsok, the founder of Karma Lekshey Ling Shedra in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, Nepal.
As the shedras were located far apart from each other, Lama Phuntsok wanted to establish an annual gathering to promote communication and enhance the quality of Dharma study and debate.
Although the first Guncho had only a small number of participants, it has since become a significant event in the Kagyu monastic calendar.
This year marked the 24th Kagyu Guncho, a Buddhist study program, and the 17th Karmapa, a spiritual leader, delivered a three-day teaching at its conclusion.
The Guncho is currently funded by the Kun Kyong Charitable Trust, established by the Gyalwang Karmapa.
Previously, the Office of the Gyalwang Karmapa provided funding for all Guncho events.
During the program, participants live in tents to emulate the lifestyle of the Garchen in Tibet and eat together from a communal kitchen.
Classes, group debates, and rounds of the debate competition take place at the host monastery or shedra.
The Gyalwang Karmapa envisions that all Karma Kagyu shedras, for both nuns and monks, should strive for the highest standards of rigorous Buddhist philosophy study.
From early morning until late at night, participants adhere to a demanding schedule that includes private study sessions, group debates, class debates, teachings, and morning and evening prayers.
The Arya Kshema, an annual teaching event for nuns established by the 17th Karmapa, will take place in Bodh Gaya starting on January 28th.
During this event, the 17th Karmapa will be teaching on ‘The Fifty Verses on the Guru’, a famous and important text in Vajrayana Buddhism.
