The 11th Kagyu Monlam Indonesia was successfully accomplished at the end of April 2019. Buddhists in Indonesia had the opportunity to recite praises and aspiration prayers from the Kagyu Monlam prayer book. The Monlam was held at the Lumbini Field; Taman Wisata Candi, Borobudur complex, Central Java Borobudur-Magelang, April 28th-30th 2019, with Dolpo Shelri Choktrul Rinpoche presiding.
This is the eleventh time that Kagyu Monlam has been held in Indonesia. It is organized by the Triyana Dharma Center (Surabaya) and Erdi Karma Kagyu Center (Jakarta) , which is the official representative of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism in Indonesia.
At least 115 peoples from both domestic and foreign countries (Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia) and 79 Sangha members attended the series of prayers and processions which were held for 3 days at the Monlam Pavilion in the Lumbini field, Borobudur Temple.
Events began with a Sangha procession bearing images of the highest leaders of the Karma Kagyu lineage, and a portrait of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa was unveiled on the Dharma throne at the Monlam Pavilion. After a series of mandala offerings and short prayers, the Sangha and devotees took the Sojong vow as a determination to carry out the 8 precepts with the special support of the sacred environs of the ancient Borobudur temple location, making the sojong practice in the Indonesian Kagyu Monlam activities more meaningful. After a series of prayers to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and breakfast at the Monlam Pavilion, the 11th Kagyu Monlam program which took the theme of Prayer for World Peace and Happiness for All Beings was officially opened by the Head of Borobudur Temple Tourism Unit, I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana, who then gave food to 10 residents around the underdeveloped Borobudur temple, released birds and planted a Bodhi tree in the Borobudur area, accompanied by Dolpo Selri Choktrul Rinpoche and several Sangha members.
On the second day, the Sangha and the people had the opportunity to carry out the Tripitaka Procession by carrying the book of Tripitaka on their left shoulder clockwise around the Borobudur temple as a form of respect to the Dharma. After returning to the Monlam Pavilion, the Tripitaka texts were read by the Sangha as a form of reciting the teachings of the Buddha.
On the third day, the people had the opportunity to pay homage and join the alms procession to the 16 Arhats. This procession, aside from being a way of accumulating merit, presents offerings to the Sangha (represented by the 16 Arhats) and displays reverence for and remembrance of the virtuous activities and qualities of the 16 Arhats that contributed to the spread of the Dharma in the ten directions.
The program of Dharma activities at the Kagyu Monlam is very diverse. In addition to offering praise and aspiration prayers, participants can also give offerings to the Sangha in the Mandala Offering activities, dedicate virtue to the ancestors in the activities of Chaudu Puja, circumambulate the Borobudur Temple as a way of accumulating virtue, plant trees as a form of environmental support, release living beings (fish and birds) and visit an orphanage as a form of compassion and various other positive activities.
At the end of the event and in closing the series of wholesome activities for 3 days, the whole Sangha and the participants sang the Lamp Prayer of hope dedicated to the happiness of all beings.