We are pleased to inform you all that the organizing committee which, to this date, has organized seven successive Monlam at Bodhgaya in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 will be continuing the Kagyu Monlam every year from now on. For the well being and welfare of all sentient beings, the organizing committee is happy to be holding a great Monlam at Bodhgaya for one week, from the 14 of December to the 20 of December 2011.

Many Great Lamas, Rinpoches, Monks and foreign disciples from all over the world will participate in this Monlam. His Holiness 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and H.H. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche will also join the Monlam.

The purpose of this Kagyu Monlam is doing aspiration prayers for the benefit of others. It was told by Nagarjuna that if aspiration prayers are done together with great bodhisattvas, the resulting prayer is so powerful that it can avert natural disasters and can remove all kinds of bad karma.

Reciting aspiration prayers is also tremendously important in order to give the full meaning of this precious human body. That’s why to be in Bodh-Gaya and to make these prayers is a great opportunity, as planting the seed of enlightment in one’s mind.

The tradition of these great Monlam was established in Tibet in the eighth century. During the following centuries these gatherings grew more and more popular. In the 13th century the 3rd Karmapa introduced the monlam to the Kagyu Lineage. Today, representatives of the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism are making prayers in Bodh-Gaya.

You can download the "The King of Aspiration Prayers of Noble, Excellent Activity", the main prayer recited during the Kagyu Mönlam here : http://www.bodhipath.org/sangcho_monlam/