Prior to 1989, in the early eighties, Their Holinesses Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Dodrupchen Rinpoche led hundreds of Nyingma monks and nuns in performing the Monlam by chanting The Exalted King of Aspirations to the Noble Conduct sutra (Arya-bhadracharya Pranidhanaraj), one hundred thousand times in Bodhgaya.
Bodhgaya is the holy place where Shakyamuni Buddha sat beneath the Bodhi (Sacred Fig) tree and attained enlightenment. It is said in the Mahayana teachings that Bodhgaya is the place where all Buddhas of the past attained enlightenment and where all future Buddhas will attain enlightenment.
This gathering of monks and nuns led to the formal inauguration of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo in 1989 principally through the instigation, generosity and far-sighted vision of Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche.
Nyingma lineage holders decided that the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo would be held during the first ten days of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar every year. The 10th day is observed as Guru Padmasambhava day and a Tsog (Symbolic Meal) is offered at the conclusion to all who attend. HH Chadral Rinpoche requested all participants in the Monlam be served vegetarian food. (Click here to download vegetarian recipes from PKMC sangha members)
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche was instrumental in creating the forms of the gathering. Bringing hundreds of monks and nuns from Namdroling Monastery to work and participate, His Holiness ensured that the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo would go smoothly and continue to grow each year. Until his death, His Holiness was present at each yearly gathering offering his presence, time, monastics, and funding. The Nyingma Monlam was one of his main dharmic activities.
The participation of many enlightened Nyingma masters over the years such as HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, HH Penor Rinpoche, HH Minling Trichen Rinpoche, HH Chadral Sangay Dorje Rinpoche, HH Tsetul Rinpoche, HH Trulshig Rinpoche, Tarthang Tulku has made a great impact on all the disciples.
It has become an auspicious occasion for the gathered assembly to pray for world peace. At present, the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo is the sole occasion when members of all the lineages of the Nyingma Tradition meet in one place.
During the three practice sessions each day, there are two main prayers recited again and again. The Exalted King of Aspirations to the Noble Conduct is a sutra and The Pure Expression of Arya Manjushri's Names is tantra.
Twenty years later in Memphis, TN, the first annual Nyingma Monlam was held at Pema Karpo Meditation Center. The founder of PKMC, Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche, attended 8 sessions of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo in Bodhgaya as a monastic of Namdroling Monastery.
Online research suggests that this is the first public gathering of the Nyingma Monlam in the USA. The Memphis Nyingma Monlam is open to all who wish to attend. The main prayers of this gathering are The Exalted King of Aspirations to the Noble Conduct and The Oral Teachings of the Joyful Dharmarajas:The Aspiration of Spreading the Teachings of the Early Translation School. As in Bodhgaya, the Monlam is for world peace.
Khenpo Gawang Rinpoche as a young monk from Namdroling at Monlams in Bodhgaya
