Date: May 11-14, 2017 （Thursday to Sunday, Total of 4 days)
Venue: Tsim Sha Tsui District Kaifong Welfare Association
Presiding Master: To Be Announced
Organizer: Kagyu Monlam Office
Organizer Address: Flat A, 2/F, Parkview Mansion, 3 Lau Sin Street, Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Email:
Website: http://kagyumonlamhk.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kagyu-Monlam-Hong-Kong-Office/303948426320560
Contact: ＋(852) 2566-6003, +(852) 9459-8874, Lama Chodrak +(852) 6102-7788
Ven. Anzin Rinpoche presided over the Monlam, bestowing a Two-Armed Chenrezig empowerment and giving teachings. More than two hundred Sangha members participated. They came from America, Canada, Malaysia, Taiwan, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore, etc. Many Sangha members from Mainland China also joined in, which made the event particularly auspicious.
As the Monlam drew to a close, all the participants waved their katas and chanted the prayer of auspiciousness, which created a wonderful atmosphere enjoyed by all present. During the Marme Monlam, a group of children led the song “The Melody of Buddha Jewel”, and all the volunteers performed “A Song of Aspiration”. Artists came together to sing “Heart Sutra”, and invited the audience, including a monk, to sing together the pop song “Friend” which brought much excitement and joy to all.
All participants in the Monlam one-pointedly focused on reciting the prayers, accumulating mantras and making aspirations. By doing so, we believe that their wisdom and merits will increase, which will certainly lead to Buddhahood in future.
There were several special features of the Hong Kong Kagyu Monlam this year:
➢ Lamp Offering in Hong Kong duplicated in India: During the Kagyu Monlam, if one offered a lamp in Hong Kong, a second lamp was offered for him or her in the Holy land of Bodhgaya, India which lasted for four days. We believe that this way of offering lamps brings more auspiciousness and accumulates more merit.
➢ Contribution to Environmental Protection: In order to reduce pollution and protect the environment, a water dispenser was installed at the venue, which led to a significant decrease in the number of plastic cups used by participants.
➢ Free Monlam Breakfast and Lunch: Every morning, the “Monlam Breakfast Bread” was distributed for free to each Sangha member and lay devotee. At noon, approximately 150 sangha members received the offering of lunch in a vegetarian restaurant, and a vegetarian buffet was prepared for 120 sangha members as well as volunteers.
➢ Special Timing: This year’s Monlam in Hong Kong was rescheduled to take place in May when the weather is milder Also, this is an auspicious month in mainland China because the celebration of the Buddha’s Birthday on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month takes place.
➢ Mothers’ Day : The Monlam concluded on Mother’s Day, in the hope that lay participants would bring their mothers and other mother sentient beings to participate and receive the blessings and merit of making offerings to the 16 Arhats and participating in the dedication prayers for the living and the dead .
