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On October 30, 2019, the common graduation ceremony of Palpung Sherabling M onastic College and Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery, the two monastic seats in exile of Palpung Thubten Chökhor Ling Monastic Seat in Eastern Tibet, was held at the main shrine hall of Palpung Sherabling Monastic College. According to the Tibetan calendar, it was the 2nd day of the 9th month of the year 2146 in the sign of the Female Earth Pig, an auspicious day with a virtuous alignment of planets, stars and elements. At 9 am, the first graduation ceremony of Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery began. Guru Vajradhara the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa was escorted into the temple by a traditional procession of lamas carrying incense. As soon as he ascended onto the throne, the verses of auspiciousness were chanted, and this was followed by an exposition of the five aspects of excellence. A mandala along with the representations of body, speech and mind were offered by the Tulku, Khenpos and the General Secretary of the Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery to Guru Vajradhara, after which traditional tea and sweet rice were offered to everyone present. Following this, the Head Khenpo Lodro Namgyal gave an introduction to the history of Kagyu Thekchen Ling Monastery, which was followed by a debate by the new graduates on the Ornament of Clear Realization, a commentary on the Prajnaparamita sutras. Guru Vajradhara then presented graduation certificates to the 43 students who completed their studies in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, praising the teachers' and students' excellent accomplishments and encouraging them to continue in the same spirit. After this, he spoke about Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and how his Five Treasuries played a vital role in the Buddhist renaissance. He pointed out that by compiling them, Kongtrul Rinpoche greatly prolonged the life of the Buddha's teachings in general as well as the life of the Tibetan Buddhist lineage in particular. In this way he also deepened, stabilised and expanded the lineage of study and practice of sutras, tantras and Buddhist sciences at Palpung, thus fulfilling the vision of Situ Panchen and his heart disciples and proliferating their enlightened activities. Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang and the new graduates then performed a long life offering to Guru Vajradhara, along with prayers for his longevity and for the flourishing of his enlightened activities. At the end, the General Secretary Tenzin Dorje gave a concluding speech and expressed his gratitude and appreciation. After lunch, representatives of Palpung Sherabling Monastic College offered a mandala along with representations of enlightened body, speech and mind to Guru Vajradhara and tea and refreshments were distributed to all participants. Following that, the newly appointed Khenpos engaged in traditional debates on the Five Major Scriptures and this year’s graduates performed a discussion on the tantras. Guru Vajradhara presented certificates and official appointment letters thereafter to the newly graduated Khenpos and Acharyas, and they in turn performed an elaborate long life offering for him. At the end, everyone offered a traditional white offering scarf to the new Khenpos and Acharyas. The historic graduation and Khenpo enthronement ceremony, virtuous in the beginning, in the middle and at the end, was thus auspiciously completed.
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