1 February, 2010 - Every year, thousands of yogis, masters, scholars and practitioners of the Drukpa Kagyu religion from all over the world gather at Kathmandu, Nepal for their annual Drukpa council (ADC) to share ideas and strengthen relationships within the lineage and exchange the richness of its spiritual legacy.

It is the world's largest assembly of masters of the Drukpa Kaguy lineage. 

The Ninth Khamtrul Rinpoche, His Eminence Jigme Pema Nyinjadh, the chairman of the Council spared some time to speak to Kuensel’s Tenzin Namgyel about the second ADC scheduled for April 8-16 in Kathmandu.

Briefly explain what the second council meeting is going to be about?
The theme of the second ADC is ‘respect and appreciate through love and understanding’

The emphasis, this time, is on appreciating and respecting individuals irrespective of their diverse backgrounds and cultures. It will go beyond our own Sangha (Buddhist community) members in terms of creating awareness and interest, not only through spiritual activities, but also through our various charitable and humanitarian activities.

Part of this will include the ‘Live to Love Charitable’ music concert that will be held for a night, where popular musicians of the 60s and 70s such as Donovan (The Beatles) will perform. The proceedings from the concert will go towards development of education and health, preservation of culture and environment in the Himalayas and victims of natural disasters.

The highlight of the second ADC will be the importance of female spiritual practitioners of the Drukpa Lineage. About 800 nuns will perform the Drubpa (ritual).

How many masters and scholars will join the gathering this year and how many are from Bhutan?
The first ADC, conducted in Druk Amitabha mountain, Nepal in 2009, saw more than 10,000 participants including Drukpa masters from Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh, Tibet, south Asia, Europe and the from the West. But this year we are anticipating more masters and scholars with more people being aware of the ADC’s importance.

Bhutan is the only kingdom in the 21st Century where Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism is well established and flourishing. I hope that there will be more Bhutanese participants this time, as this will be an opportunity for international participants to learn about Bhutan’s unique spiritual and cultural heritage.

We have received confirmation from a few Bhutanese rinpoches and lopons (teachers) and we’re expecting more, especially those representing the Dratshang (monk body).

Why is it that a majority of the volunteers in protocol during the first ADC were from Bhutan?
Bhutan is rich in terms of its spiritual, cultural and traditional heritage, which is evident from how they practice their religion and how well they behave and maintain their core values.

Young Bhutanese volunteers’ ability to manage etiquette and protocol required is very natural as compared with volunteers from Europe and other Asian countries. They are familiar with the traditional etiquettes required in Vajrayana Buddhist practitioners, which is very important when in attendance of rinpoches.

Moreover, most Bhutanese are able to speak at least three languages, English, Hindi and Nepali that most rinpoches are familiar with. They are comfortable with Nepal’s landscape and familiar with its culture. The first ADC participants commended the Bhutanese volunteers for smart, humble and a gracious group.

Who would benefit from the ADC and how?
The ADC unites Drukpa masters who preserved and promoted the 800-year-old Drukpa legacy for the benefit of all sentient beings. Our ultimate endeavor is to encourage individuals through such annual councils through other means, to help develop genuine inner happiness.

Environmental disasters, wars and crimes are a direct manifestation of ego and deep ignorance. The truth of interdependence is that everything happening in the world are a direct or indirect result of our actions.

It is extremely important in this degenerating age, for not only the masters, but individuals to unite in our continual search for encouragement on the path of inner peace and happiness, on the footsteps of the Buddha.

Tell us something about the precious Rangjung Kharsapani (self-risen relic), an exhibit during the ADC, which emerged from Tsangpa Gyare’s backbone, who founded the Drukpa lineage?
Bodhisattvas are born to help free sentient beings from khorwa (samsara) using various means to enlighten them. When Bodhisattvas die, they pray that their remains (in form of relics) enlighten all living beings through their senses of sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing, thereby, liberating them.

Sight of the relics rouses faith and devotion, integral for opening the mind toward liberation. It is almost the same as seeing the Buddha or Guru Padmasambhava himself in person, enabling the wishes and prayers of the individual to be fulfilled.

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