Trip to the 29th Annual Kagyu Monlam

February 22^nd – March 12^th 2012

 His Holiness will be a Teaching before this Monlam from 26 February to 28 February 2012

*Optional 5 day extension: Dharamsala

 

Monlam Journeys and Laura Durand will be leading another group to the Holy place of Buddha’s Enlightenment, Bodhgaya, to participate in the annual Kagyu Monlam Festival

Cost: TBA

Optional extension: 5 days in Dharamsala. Arrangements will be made for a private audience with His Holiness Karmapa if he is in residence. 

 

This journey will begin in the vibrant city of Delhi. After arriving you will have a day of free time to rest, relax and explore before meeting up with the group over a welcome dinner. The next Evening we will take an overnight train to Gaya. Once in Bodhgaya we will spend the next three days (Feb 26-28) at the public teachings on the Vajradhara Lineage prayer with his Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa at Tergar Monastery. This year during the Monlam, Gyalwang Karmapa will teach daily on Akshobya as well as bestow the empowerment of Akshobya. The program will
(http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/News/Schedule/29th_Monlam_Schedule.html)       also include prayers for long-life, the Medicine Buddha ritual, the recitation of the Kangyur, Akshobhya ritual and mandala, the Alms Procession, Marme Monlam (Lamp Prayer) and more special activities yet to be announced. After Completion of the festival, we will take a day trip to enjoy the history and blessings of Rajgir (Vulture peak) and Nalanda University. The next day we will head to Varanasi (Benares) by jeep. Located on the banks of the Ganges, this city is one of India’s most important cultural and religious centers. Mark Twain wrote: “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together”. We will be here for a full day to experience a taste of it’s richness. We will visit Sarnath, a principle place of pilgrimage for all Buddhists and the spot where the Buddha’s first sermon set in motion the wheel of Dharma. We will explore the city, watch the devoted bathe in the holy Ganges, see traditional silk and brocade factories and other unknown sights and sounds. The next day, and our departure day, we will fly back to India’s capital, New Delhi. With trip option A, March 12^th is Departure day. With trip option B, we will fly to Dharamsala on the morning of March 13^th, returning by evening train on March 16^th. Departure day would be March 17^th with this option.

 

THE TENTATIVE SCHEDULE is as follows:

 

February 22^nd : (Wed) Arrival Day/transfer to Hotel

February 23^rd : Free day /Welcome dinner

February 24^th: Evening train to Gaya

February 25^th: Early morning arrival in Bodgaya

February 26^th-28^th: His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa teaches on Vajradhra Lineage Prayer                                                             9-11 am  and 3-5 pm                                                                                    February 29^th: Free day

March 1^st- March 8^th:  Kagyu Monlam

March 9^th: Day trip to Rajgir and Nalanda

March 10^th: Afternoon drive to Varanasi by jeep/ Group dinner

March 11th: Sunrise boat trip on the Ganges, brocade specialty house/ Trip to Sarnath

March 12^th :  Flight back to Delhi

March 12^th : Option A: Night Departure back home (option to stay extra night)

 

March 13^{th :} Option B: March 13^th: Flight to Dharamsala

March-14^{th -}16^th 2012 Dharamsala

March 17^th: flight to Delhi and transfer to hotel/Departure day

 

Please read “The reasons for Participating in the Monlam” http://www.kagyumonlam.org/English/Lectures/20071221_HHK_ParticipatingMonlam.html  

Let us embark together on an out of the ordinary journey to visit His Holiness the 17th Karmapa at the KAGYU MONLAM in Bodhgaya, India

This tour will not include your airfare to/from India. You will need to purchase a ticket to and from Delhi (DEL). It will include all airport and train transfers, accommodation, all transportation arrangements and most meals. All costs will be quoted in US Dollars.

If you would like help with arrangements before or after our journey please contact us.

You must become a member of The Kagyu Monlam to participate

Rooms in Delhi, Bodhgaya and Varanasi will be double occupancy. Single supplements will be available for an additional cost, please contact us to arrange that for you.

All hotels are considered mid-range.

For more information about the Kagyu Monlam please follow this link

Even though we will be traveling as a group, this is not a guided tour. We provide the framework to travel safely and comfortably with like minded others. Space is provided in every itinerary with opportunities for personal time and practice, such as the Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya as well as the Dhamekh stupa in Sarnath. We will have private interviews as a group with some of the most revered Rinpoches of the Kagyu lineage. We will have opportunities to volunteer, to find ways to help the local community in Bodhgaya and most importantly, we will be blessed by an unforgettable and enriching experience.

For questions and to make early payment arrangements; please contact us at info@monlamjourneys.com