From June 9th to 11th, 2009 the Second International Gongchig Conference in India was held at the Jokhang Temple in Leh, Ladakh. Great scholars from all the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism attended and delivered lectures on varying topics of the Gongchig (dgongs gcig) text (Single Intention) by Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön, the founder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage.

There were 23 scholars who presented their papers and five additional papers were read from scholars from Tibet and foreign countries who were unable to attend in person.

The opening day, H.H. the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang kindly agreed to preside over the conference. H.E. Togden Rinpoche, the president of the Ladakhi Monastery Association, and Lobsang Rinchen, Principal of the Central Institute for Buddhist Studies and over 200 scholars from Ladakh, from other parts of India, from Tibet, as well as foreign countries attended. His Holiness opened the conference by lighting a butter lamp in the temple symbolizing overcoming ignorance with the light of the dharma.

Three Drikung Monks from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varnasi, sang the Mangalam (Prayer of Auspiciousness) in Sanskrit. Khenpo Rangdol, the principal of Kagyu College in Dehra Dun, then gave the opening welcome speech. Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen, also from Kagyu College, introduced the Gongchig, and then the chief scholars from each of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism addressed the conference participants.

After these introductory lectures, H.E. Togden Rinpoche gave an amusing speech on the history of the Gongchig, and finally H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche spoke, giving a brief explanation about the Gongchig. His Holiness reminded the participants that during the seminar they should discuss and debate without sectarian attitudes and truly try to judge with reason. He quoted the Buddha Shakyamuni who pronounced we should investigate his teachings like examining gold and not blindly believe in them. Regardless of our personal lineage we must judge without bias. His Holiness continued to explain that the vajra statements of Jigten Sumgön's Gongchig each cannot be separated from the Buddha's speech, from the speech of his guru Phagmodrupa, from his personal experience and from interdependent origination.

The Khenpos of Kagyu College presented His Holiness and all the chief guests with the 3rd volume of the Kagyu College Magazine as well as a newly published edition of the 8th Karmapa Mikyö Dorje’s (1507-1554) commentary on the Gongchig. During each session chief scholars took turns as chairman and monitored the lively debates among the participants: Tsewang Rigzin from the Drupa Kagyu lineage, Urgyen Dadul from the Nyingma lineage, Khenpo Konchog Tashi from the Drikung Kagyu lineage, Dr. Jamyang Gyaltsen from the Sayka lineage, and Geshe Yeshe Tabkye of the Gelupa lineage concluded the event as the masters of ceremony.

Since the Gongchig has not been widely published and studied, many important questions and debates arose and the participants were amazed and humbled by the profundity of Jigten Sumgön's teachings. All the scholars mentioned the importance of this event and rejoiced in the benefit of the conference.

The event rounded up with impressive cultural dances of various traditional Ladakhi tribes and a very enjoyable farewell dinner.