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About the International Drikung Kagyu Council

History

When His Holiness Konchok Tenzin Kunsang Thinley Lhundup’s healthy body was hidden to the public, many students became worried about the state of his health. As a result, students of the Drikung Kagyu Institute from all over the world gathered together and, with their single-pointed minds, spontaneously agreed on arranging a Long-Life Mandala ceremony and offerings for him. This wholesome act was fully supported by all the monastic and laypeople.

During the ceremony, the aspiration prayers and activities of all the Dharma Protectors ripened, and the first sitting discussion meeting was held at Songtsen Library in Dehradun, India. This meeting was not arranged by a few people of higher or lower authority. Rather, it came about spontaneously as many Drikung Kagyu followers discussed how to improve and preserve the teachings of the Drikung Kagyu lineage.

They all agreed to form a society that would look after all the Drikung Kagyu monasteries and centers around the world. Additionally, they unanimously decided that all future members selected to the councils of the societies must be free of the extremes of bias based on partiality to particular monasteries or regions and that they should hold no bias.

The Selection Process

There were two ideas regarding the selection process of the future council that would be made up of seven members: a voting system and alternatively, a volunteer system for incorporating members. These two concepts were discussed, and it was agreed upon to use the volunteer system. During that discussion, it was decided that if there were to be more than seven volunteers. The names of all volunteers would be taken to the Achi Chökyi Drolma Shine Hall, where the method of using a lottery for choosing the members would be employed.

There were only six volunteers wishing to be members and serve the Drikung Kagyu lineage that day. After a while, they requested H.E. Nubpa Rinpoche’s presence as the seventh member of the council.

The First Drikung Kagyu Council Members

The six volunteers are Singi Tenzin Rinpoche, Khenpo Thubten, Khenpo Rigzin, Khenpo Tenzin Nyima, Drupon Thinley Nyingpo, and Lotsawa (translator) Lama Nyandak. All present in the meeting happily accepted and applauded the first International Drikung Kagyu Welfare Council members. Afterward, the organizer of the long-life mandala offering ceremony presented the outcome of the sitting discussion to the Vajradhara Holiness. On February 25, 2013, a very auspicious day of the main ceremony of the Mandala offerings, with assemblies of the monastic and laypeople present, His Holiness bestowed his blessing with a Khata (white scarf) on the neck of each member. Moreover, His Holiness announced and recognized the newly formed society before the huge congregation, who responded with praise.

That evening, the members of the newly formed society went to see His Holiness where he offered the name, the International Drikung Kagyu Council. On the following day, the members visited H. E. Garchen Rinpoche, who gave wonderful advice to the seven members. At the time, Rinpoche said that the members who stepped forward were actually chosen by higher beings and Dharma Protectors such as Achi Chökyi Drolma.

© 2021 International Drikung Kagyu Council

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