On November 8, the day before the opening ceremony for Rinchenling Monastery, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang bestowed shramanera (dge tshul) und bhikshu (dge slong) vows to monks and nuns of Jangchubling Monastery, Samtenling Nunnery, Rinchenling and Rinchenpalri Monastery. There were altogether 150 monks and nuns. Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen and most of the Khenpos from Drikung Kagyu College were also presented for the ceremony of receiving the vows.

Inauguration Ceremony of Drikung Kagyu Rinchenling Monastery
First Day, November 9, 2009

His Holiness the 37th Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Konchok Tenzin Kunzang Thrinle Lhundrub initiated the opening ceremony of Rinchenling Monastery at 9.30 in the morning at the auspicious day of Lhabab Duchen. A short prayer ceremony was conducted and the ribbon cutting was done at the entrance door of the main temple. Thereafter H.H. Drikung Kyabgön with all the monks and nuns entered the main temple and lightened up the butter lamp as a sign for peace and prosperity.

The Spiritual Director of Rinchenling Monastery, H.E. Nubpa Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, H.E. Trichen Rinpoche, H.E. Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche, and most of the Tulkus and Rinpoches from Jangchubling Monastery, Dehradun, were present. There were also some Tulkus and Rinpoches from other traditions as well; all together there were more than 20 Tulkus. Moreover Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen and all the Khenpos of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage, Lapchi Dorzin Dondrup Palden and all the retreatants from the retreat center, monks and nuns, foreigners and local people attended. There were almost two thousand people gathered for the grand ceremony.

At 9:45am H.E. Nubpa Rinpoche gave a warm Welcome Speech and an introduction to the newly built Rinchenling Monastey. The president of the society, H.E. Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche read out the message from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Khenpo Nyima Dorji, the president of the Monastery Management and Development committee, the member of Kagyu Lineage and Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies, Dharamsala, India, the Kalön (Minister) of the Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration Dharamsala, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, the Secretary of the Village Development Committee, Nayapati, all delivered speeches.

Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen gave a brief introduction to the life story of Lord Jigten Sumgön. In his brilliant lecture he spoke about the new Monastery in terms of the Three Wheels: the Wheel of Activity, the Wheel of Learning and the Wheel of Meditation or Practice. Khenchen said he felt immense pleasure to see this new monastery fully completed. He explained that this kind of endeavor belongs to the Wheel of Activity of the Buddha. But he further added that just to have the new monastery is not enough, one should keep up studying and contemplating on Buddha's teachings, and this is known as the Wheel of Learning. And just to have the teaching is also not sufficient, one should keep on practicing and gain inner peace and happiness and finally attain Buddhahood for oneself and all other sentient beings; this is known as the Wheel of Meditation. Since the monastery is fully accomplished it becomes the foundation for the Wheel of Learning and the Wheel of Meditation and Practice.

Khenchen further clarified that presently science and technology have reached a peak of development, but people are still missing the inner quality, the way of peace and happiness, the purpose of life. In this kind of situation and condition, the age-old tradition, culture and teachings would contribute an immense benefit to all the people around the world. We should go by hand in hand with modern science and technology. Therefore, Khenchen Rinpoche has earnestly requested each and every member of the younger generation to study and practice the Dharma, and to preserve the invaluable culture and tradition of Buddhism. Finally, he fully rejoiced in the activities that have been undertaken for building the monastery, and prayed for world peace and happiness.

At 11:00am, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche delivered a speech in relation to the practice of the Dharma. His Eminence said that there are mainly two kinds of teachings, inner teaching and outer teaching. The activities of building the monastery are known as outer teaching, and the cultivation of the inner heart or quality is known as the inner teaching. In order to practice the Dharma both these teachings are required. After having acquired these two factors one should proceed by taking refuge to the Three Jewels, to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and cultivate the heart of loving kindness and compassion to all sentient beings which are as infinite as the sky. One should always avoid harmful thoughts and negative emotions, and practice the Buddha Dharma by thinking that there is no such sentient being that has not been one's own mother in this life or many other life times. So, keeping this in mind one should try to benefit all sentient beings by practicing the Dharma in life.

At 11:30am, H.H. Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang delivered a speech as the guest of honor. Kyabgön Rinpoche expressed his happiness to be here for the inauguration of Rinchenling Monastery and to see the large number of people who came for the function. At the same time he was deeply impressed by the architectural elegance of the building with its remarkable paintings. His Holiness said, all the traditional sculptures and paintings are of high standard, and there are especially excellent paintings of the whole Drikung Kagyu Lineage on the wall. Many of the pillars resemble pillar found in the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Most of the painters were from Bhutan and some from Nepal. His Holiness pointed out, that this magnificent monastery, both outer and inner, is an important contribution to Tibetan culture as well as to the culture of the Himalayan region.

Drikung Kyabgön Rinpoche strongly emphasized in his speech the points raised in the messages of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama that the monastery should concentrate first on education and practice of the Buddha Dharma. The second point regards the welfare of society, and environmental preservation. Finally His Holiness expressed his utmost delight with Rinchenling Monastery and prayed for world peace and harmony.

Thereafter, Ven. Rabsang Rinpoche extended a vote of thanks to all the speakers, and H.E. Nubpa Rinpoche and H.E. Trisab Gyabra Rinpoche gave souvenirs to sponsors, staff and contractors.

After lunch, traditional songs and cultural dances were performed for all the guests and people who came for the function as a sign of joy and happiness.

Empowerments and teachings by His Holiness and Garchen Rinpoche
Second Day, November 10, 2009

At 9:30am H.H. Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoche gave an empowerment and teachings of the Goddess Who Eliminates All Diseases (Parna Shabari, ri khrod lo ma gyon ma) at the main temple.

After Lunch, from 2:30 to 4.30pm H.E. Garchen Rinpoche gave teachings and the empowerment of the White Tara.

The unfolding of the giant thangka
Third Day, November 11, 2009

At 8:30am the giant silken thangka of the Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön was unfurled from the top of the main temple, and Lama Chöpa (Guru Puja) and the feast offering were conducted before the great thangka. Right after the puja Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang gave a brief introduction to Lord Jigten Sumgön and spoke about the 830th anniversary of the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. During his important speech, His Holiness highly praised Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen for diligently working hard for the Drikung Kagyu Lineage for many years. Khenchen has been traveling to the West and has been teaching there since 30 years, and still holds the heart of moral ethics. His Holiness clearly made an announcement that Khenchen Rinpoche is on the Khenpo's (abbot) seat of Jangchubling Monastery since 1987 when the monastery was first established. In 1992, during the Monkey Year Teachings, he was officially appointed as the Khenchen of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. Khenchen designates the position of the great Khenpo of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. Now that Rinchenling Monastery is established, and because of the strong requests from all the Rinpoches and monks of Rinchenling Monastery, Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen was appointed as the first Khenpo of the Rincheling Monastery, at Nayapati in Kathmandu, Nepal.

In his declaration, His Holiness clarified some important points concerning titles and post in the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. He said that Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen is still the Khenchen of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage, besides holding a seat for honorary Khenpo of Drikung Kagyu Jangchubling Monastery in Dehradun, India. Kyabgön Chetsang further added that the Drikung Kagyu Lineage has only one main seat or one main monastery, which is Drikung Thil Jangchubling Monastery in Tibet, which was founded by Lord Jigten Sumgön in 1179; there is no second main seat or main monastery. Drikung Kagyu has only one seat for Khenchen, there is no second seat for Khenchen.

Furthermore His Holiness explained the difference between the Khenpo of the Monastery and the Khenpo of the Philosophical Institution (Shedra). On the one hand, Khenpo is an academic degree issued by institutes of Higher Buddhist Studies, and of course there are always numerous graduates bearing the title of a Khenpo, comparable to the Geshe degree. On the other hand, the monastic Khenpo is a kind of abbot. Historically the Drikung Kagyu Lineage had only two seats for monastic Khenpos, one in Drikung Thil and the other in Drikung Yangrigar. The rest of the Drikung monasteries have no Khenpo as abbot, but instead this post is taken by a Lopön.

The Drikung Kagyu Lineage in exile has officially recognized two seats for monastic Khenpo. Since Khenchen is appointed as Khenpo in Rinchenling Monastery, there is still one seat in Jangchubling Monastery in Dehradun, India.

In the monasteries there is a distinction between Lopön and Dorje Lopön. While the duty of the Lopön as abbot of the monastery mainly consists of conducting the Vinaya vows, the Dorje Lopön guides the rites and ritual practice or the creation of sand mandalas, sculptures and so forth at the monastery.

Kyabgön Rinpoche further explained that the Drikung Kagyu Linage has only three Dorzin (Vajra Holder). The seats of the Vajra Holders are at Mount Kailash, Lapchi and Tsari, which are the three foundations for meditation at the three holy places of Chakrasamvara. There is no other Dorzin other than these three, whereas the meditation master for one particular meditation center bears the title of a Drubpön.

His Holiness stressed that everyone should keep these facts and distinctions in mind and he finally ended up his speech with prayers for world peace and harmony.

After lunch, cultural dances and songs were performed to entertain the guests and all the people. At 07:00 pm, after the dinner, the Lamp Offering and prayers for the World Peace and Harmony were conducted. H.E. Garchen Rinpoche held a lamp in his hand and leaded the prayer procession of hundreds of monks, nuns and foreigners, each holding an illuminated lamp.

Teachings on the conduct of the Bodhisattva by His Holiness
Fourth Day, November 12, 2009

The whole day of November 12, His Holiness gave teachings on the practice of the Bodhisattva, and bestowed the Bodhisattva's Vows for all the people who wished and gathered for the teaching.

Report by Kinley Gyaltsen
Private Office of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang