Due to the compassion and activity of the glorious buddha and crown ornament of the teaching of the practice lineage, Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, per his intentions and advice, each year the Kagyu Monlam is held in many countries of the East and West. However, this year because of the unfortunate circumstance of the coronavirus, each country will not be able to hold its usual gathering. Therefore, the office of the Great Kagyu Monlam requested Bokar Monastery of Mirik to conduct a Monlam for all of Asia that could be broadcast over the internet.
When deciding on where to hold the prayer festival—taking into consideration a suitable place with a stable internet connection—the main hall of Bokar Monastery’s Obar Chimey Ling, its Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, was selected. The reincarnation of Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche and Kyabje Khenchen Rinpoche led the prayers from October 30th through November 1st.
On the final day, a special ceremony was held where many recitations of Tara’s Twenty-one Praises were accumulated to benefit the Gyalwang Karmapa and especially for the welfare of all those around the world who have been physically and mentally affected by the coronavirus, so that they may quickly be relieved of all fear, difficulty, and suffering. In connection with this, a special viewing and blessing was offered via the meditation support of all the Vajradhara Bokar Rinpoches—a sacred statue of Noble Arya Tara.
The preliminaries, the main event, and the concluding sections of the Asia Kagyu Monlam were conducted a most extensive and elaborate manner. The entirety of the program was broadcast far and wide over the internet allowing for many thousands of devoted viewers to join the program.
