Holidays
Besides the free days in the weekends, there are a few one or two day recesses at different occasions during the year. There is only one extended vacation in the whole year, which is normally after the completion of the academic session.
After the examinations, the students attend the Karma Gunchoe (winter course debates) and Kagyu Monlam Chenmo (prayers for world peace) at Bodhgaya, India. The institute remains closed after that and most of the students go home. Those who remain at Karma Lekshey Ling are provided with food and lodging.
The extended vacation starts from the middle of the eleventh Tibetan month, which usually falls in January, and ends at the beginning of the second month, which roughly falls at the beginning of March.
Anniversaries and Festivals
At the end of the Tibetan year one of the largest annual pujas, the seven days' Mahakala Puja is taking place.
Losar (Tibetan New Year) is celebrated for six days.
During the first Tibetan month, Karma Lekshey Ling partakes in the one-week-recitation of all the volumes of the sutras of Lord Buddha, extensive Tara pujas, and other ceremonies.
On June 26th, the birthday of the 17th Karmapa Urgyen Drodul Trinley Dorje is celebrated.
Sojongs (purification ceremonies) are conducted by the Institute twice a month.
Starting from the middle of the sixth Tibetan month, the whole Institute goes into Yarney (summer retreat) for about one and a half months and conducts public discourses and debates at the end of the retreat.
Apart from this, Karma Lekshey Ling holds seminars on selected Buddhist topics on advanced teachings. |
