The Great Prayer Festival The Monlam Chenmo, also known as The Great Prayer Festival was established in the year 1409 by the great Tibetan philosopher, saint and social reformer, Tsongkhapa Losang Dakpa (1357-1419), the founder of the Geluk tradition. This is the greatest religious festival in Tibet and the first prayer was held in Jokhang, the central cathedral in Lhasa. In the first month of Tibetan calendar he invited all the people of Tibet to a two-week-long festival of prayer, auspicious ritual, teachings, and celebrations, from the first new moon until the full moon day. The time of the year was chosen because Lama Tsongkhapa firmly believed in the life story of the Sakyamuni Buddha told in the Sutras of the Wise and Foolish called “Overcoming the six Teachers.” Buddha was challenged by six rival teachers to a contest of miraculous performances. For many years, Buddha evaded their challenges, letting people believe that he was afraid of their magical powers, losing his royal patrons, and causing doubts and worries to grow among the people. Finally, in the city of Shravasti, Buddha accepted the challenge and stood before a huge assembly of people. The rival teachers were eclipsed almost immediately, as Buddha produced spectacular manifestations. He threw down a toothpick and grew a giant wish-granting gem tree. He rinsed his mouth with scented water, and celestial lakes with divine ducks and jewel lotuses appeared. He concentrated and emitted rays of light, and hosts of Buddhas, bodhisattvas and gods filled the skies. Teachings of liberation and awakening, reverberating in every language known to man, illumined the minds of all assembled. He even manifested a vision of himself multiplying infinitely, his compassionate energy becoming clearly present to everyone’s awareness”. This full moon day of the year is celebrated in the Mahayana tradition as the Day of Miracles (Chotrul Duchen) to commemorate the final day of miraculous display by the Buddha which lasted fifteen days. The miracles were not done for the sake of bragging or simply proving that he was a greater teacher, but instead to ensure that students knew that what he was teaching was indeed true. Master Thich Nhat Hanh points out “The miracle is not to walk on water; the miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.” A great Yogi of Tibet further elaborated that we should begin to exercise greater awareness of the miracles that unfold in the present moment, where we see forms and formlessness interwoven in a great cosmic dance that arises from the cloud of causes and conditions only to dissolve back into emptiness. The Buddha defeated the heretical teachers and introduced all in the audience to the path of Dharma. So the day on which Buddha Sakyamuni defeated the heretical teachers is observed as Monlam Chenmo. During Monlam festival monks would perform traditional Tibetan Buddhist dances (Cham) and huge ritual offering cakes (Tormas) were made, that were adorned with very elaborate butter sculptures. On the fifteenth day the highlight of Monlam Chenmo would be the Butter Lamp Festival (Chunga Chopa). At the end of the festival, these Tormas would be burned in a large bon-fire. Many other monasteries would hold special prayer sessions and perform religious rituals, for example some monasteries would unfold huge religious scroll-paintings (Thangkas) for all to see. The communal prayers, offered with strong faith and devotion, help to overcome obstacles to peace and generate conducive conditions for everyone to live in harmony. The belief is that the Buddhism of Sakyamuni Buddha has passed its peak, and is gradually declining. But the Great Prayer Festival will shorten this period of decline and prevent the latter end of it. The main purpose of the Great Prayer Festival is to pray for the long life of all the holy Gurus of all traditions, for the survival and flourishment of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace. It is taught that the merit of any activity done on this day is multiplied ten million times, so the community is encouraged to participate in the virtuous activities.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 09:06:07 +0000
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