Completion of Summer Retreat, September 2020
On 16 September 2020, the Summer Retreat at Ngor Monastery was completed. His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche led the retreat, which was performed by nine monks and spanned for one and a half months. On the morning of the final day of the retreat, a ritual called Gag Ye was performed (Gag meaning block or barrier, and Ye meaning to clear or unblock).
On 17 September 2020, the nine monks who completed the retreat performed circumambulations of Ngor Monastery and its surrounds. The circumambulations symbolised the clearing or unblocking of the barriers of oath the monks took at the start of the retreat. As per tradition, to mark the successful completion of the retreat, the monks were rewarded with three days of relaxation.
His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin’s birthday fell on 18 September 2020, which was also the first day of the new moon and the celebration of the successful completion of the Summer Retreat. His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche and His Eminence Thartse Khen Rinpoche led the Long Life Buddha ritual with senior monks and dedicated Ten Sum offerings to His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin.
May the fruit of these meritorious activities spread far and wide and blessings of the Tathagatha Buddha forever shine on every sentient being.
Sarwa Mangalam
