On June 6th, 2010, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche will personally preside over the 793rd Annual Lord Jigten Sumgon Memorial Puja. Lord Jigten Sumgon founded the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. This grand ceremony, hosted by the Drikung Kagyu Order, will be held from 8:30am to 1:30pm at the Taipei Arena in Taiwan. The Glorious Jewel Buddhist Culture Exchange Association has been appointed to coordinate the event. This ceremony provides the all-important opportunity to bring blessings to Taiwan and to pray for world peace.

By March of this year, without need for public advertisement, the news of this grand ceremony had already travelled by word of mouth throughout the world. There are already more than 14,000 people committed to attend. Furthermore, this number has continued to increase steadily. Participants will include ordained members of both Esoteric and Exoteric monastic communities, as well as lay believers from places such as Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Canada, Germany, France, Holland, Australia, the Philippines, and the US.

Admittance to the event is free of charge as are the ceremonious lamps to be used as offerings during the ceremony. Under the guidance of Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, and without the necessity for outside fundraising, the members of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Culture Exchange Association have pledged over NT$ 10 million to cover the cost of this year’s event.

On June 30th, 2002, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche presided over a similar ceremony that was held at the Taiwan Taoyuan County Stadium. It was Guru Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the abbot of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center, who had implored His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche to come to Taiwan to preside over the ceremony. The ceremony included the Phowa ritual and the Lohma Jolma Curing Puja, as transmitted by Lord Jigten Sumgon.

This year’s event marks 793 years since the passing of Lord Jigten Sumgon. This rare and sacred occasion will also be just the second time that His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has visited Taiwan to preside over such a ceremony. Apart from aspiring to bring about world peace, bring blessings to Taiwan, and eliminate the possibility of disaster, this year’s ceremony has the added significance of commemorating the 831st anniversary of the founding of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage.

Updated on April 24, 2010