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The incredible thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts, in stitched appliqué, the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Displayed during Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2016. Photo by Charok Lama.
For the eighth year in a row, a very large thangka of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) was displayed and an auspicious 100,000 tsog offering event (Guru Bumtsog) took place at Khachoe Ghakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery) on December 16, 2023, in the presence of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Thame monks and other Sangha, Kopan monks and nuns, and local lay people. The event was even aired on the local news! Prayers were offered for all beings and for the swift return of our precious Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the actualization of all of Rinpoche’s holy wishes, and for peace in the world.
Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche receiving attendees of the 2023 Guru Bumtsog at Kopan Nunnery. Photo by Charok Lama.
The puja is an incredible undertaking by Kopan monks and nuns as it takes days to set up and arrange, plus lunch offered to all in attendance requires major preparation. This short video captures the energy, joy, and community involvement of this event:
Extensive offerings at the base of the large Padmasambhava thangka during Guru Bumtsog event, Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.
The thangka, which is 75 feet (23 meters) high and 87 feet (27 meters) wide depicts, in stitched appliqué, the Padmasambhava merit field in the center. Lama Zopa Rinpoche personally designed and oversaw the creation of this huge thangka and also raised the funds for it, thanks to the kindness of two generous donors. The thangkha was also blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
With great rejoicing we share that this will now be an annual event at Kopan Nunnery on December 3, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday, to commemorate Rinpoche’s life and fulfill Rinpoche’s wishes. Students of Rinpoche are encouraged to plan to come to this extremely joyous and auspicious event.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained that displaying large thangkas is an auspicious way for anyone in the area to make a Dharma imprint and connection to the deity depicted. “You may think that a statue or thangka is just a statue or thangka,” Rinpoche has said, “but it is the transcendental wisdom of dharmakaya, which understands and directly sees absolute truth, as well as conventional truth.”
Guru bumtsog event with the large Padmasambhava thangka on display, December 16, 2023. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery.
Rinpoche also expressed that it is his wish for many FPMT centers to have huge thangkas and once a year to display the thangka and have a festival day for the public based around the holy object. During the festival day, Rinpoche requested for there to be many thousands of offerings in front of the thangka, as well as offering banners.
Young monks receiving lunch during the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Lunch was offered to all in attendance. Photo by Charok Lama.
There could be some introduction to Buddhism offered to those in attendance, and then a puja, that is based on the deity of the thangka. Then, people could offer music, dances, and so forth to the thangka (and also for everyone to enjoy). People can also circumambulate the thangka. For example, the center could have a horse and carriage and children can ride along. In this way, even the horse collects merit, as well as any animal that comes on that day and goes around the thangka. This makes their life so meaningful!
Locals enjoying the Guru Bumtsog event at Kopan Nunnery, December 16, 2023. Photo by Charok Lama.
Please rejoice in this auspicious yearly event which is fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions and has profound effects on those in Nepal and the entire world. The costs of offering this yearly are substantial and will be covered by the FPMT Puja Fund. Anyone interested in contributing to this yearly event held on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthday may offer any amount to the Puja Fund.
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way.
The Holy Objects Fund offers grants to the creation of holy objects around the world.