AS THE WARMTH OF SUMMER gave way to autumn’s chill, KTD Monastery in Woodstock, NY and the Karme Ling Retreat Center in nearby Delhi, NY prepared to observe two solemn occasions: the 39th anniversary of the parinirvana of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje; and the 1st anniversary of the parinirvana of Khyabje Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, which occur together on October 24.
EACH YEAR KTD commemorates His Holiness the 16th Karmapa on the 8th Day of the 9th Tibetan lunar month; in 2020 we also remembered Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, who passed away on the exact same lunar calendar day as his beloved master, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.
THE JOINT COMMEMORATION took place under the most unusual circumstances.
WITH BOTH KTD MONASTERY and Karme Ling Retreat Center closed for the rest of the year due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and at the request of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the khenpos and lamas from KTD and Karme Ling gathered together for a month of private prayers and pujas to prepare for the blessing and filling of a stupa being dedicated to Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche at Karme Ling.
ON OCTOBER 24, lamas and monks at KTD made beautiful shrine offerings, performed pujas and hung commemorative lights on the monastery roof and deer-and-dharma-wheel symbol, while at Karme Ling, khenpos, lamas and monastics completed the 10th of 11 days of pujas to bless and fill the Stupa of Awakening built to commemorate Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche.
LED BY LAMA TASHI DONDUP (photo at right) of Karma Tekchen Zabsal Ling in Canada, the pujas purified and blessed all the items used to fill the main stupa and the first of two “attendant” stupas. This including relics, mantra rolls, tsa-tsas, and gemstones and jewelry sent by dharma students all over the world.
MORE THAN A DOZEN lamas and monastics took part in the Karme Ling ceremonies, most of which took place outdoors under tents on Columbarium Hill, where last year hundreds of people gathered to witness the auspicious cremation of Khenpo Rinpoche. The main Stupa of Awakening was raised on the site of his cremation.
KTD PRESIDENT LAMA KARMA DRODHUL expressed his appreciation for the outpouring of love and prayer and merit honoring his uncle. Remarking on how Khenpo Rinpoche tirelessly engaged in virtue during his lifetime, Lama Karma said he is fully confident that the stupas would give past, present and future students a way to connect with Khenpo Rinpoche’s blessings.
Photos from the Stupa of Awakening Consecration here, in chronological order
Another Small Stupa Arrived
Meanwhile, the second “attendant” stupa for the three-stupa group at Karme Ling arrived at Karme Ling in the beginning of November. Another set of pujas were conducted by the khenpos, lamas and monastics mid-month to fill and bless that stupa, which completed the set as suggested by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa.
In support of this effort to commemorate Khenpo Rinpoche’s life and virtue, Lama Karma encouraged students to continue reciting the 100-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva. The mantras are dedicated to the purification of our obstacles and obscurations and to fulfill the dharma activity of Khenpo Rinpoche.
Photos from the small stupa consecration here, in chronological order
Photos courtesy Lama Karma Drodhul
KTD Mandala News 