Siddhartha's Intent announces Dzongsar Monlam and Siddhartha Festival 2023 in Bodh Gaya

Siddhartha's Intent India (SII), founded by revered Bhutanese lama, filmmaker and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, has announced the Dzongsar Monlam Prayer Festival 2023, which will be led by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and senior sangha members in Bodh Gaya, in North East India, after which SII will host the Siddhartha festival.

Organized by the Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Institute, Dzongsar Monlam will take place from October 18 to 27. It was first held in 2006 and takes place every two years at the place where the Buddha achieved enlightenment: under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. The Siddhartha Festival, which will celebrate the life of the Buddha and his teachings, will feature a two-day program of lectures, songs, dances and more, from October 28-29.

“Immerse yourself in the serene embrace of Bodh Gaya for the Siddhartha Festival, a tribute to the teachings of the Buddha under the Bodhi Tree, where he attained enlightenment,” announced Siddhartha's Intent India. “Inspire your heart with the practice of Triratna Sadhana, enlightening lectures, captivating performances, a Buddhist art exhibition and much more. » (Siddhartha's intention in India)

Siddhartha's Intent is an international collective of Buddhist groups supporting the Buddhadharma activities of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche by organizing teachings and retreats, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, and transcribing and translating manuscripts and practice texts.

“The vision of the Siddhartha Festival is to come together and pay homage to Siddhartha Gautama and present the legacy and wisdom of the Buddha to those who seek the truth,” observed Siddhartha's Intent India. “To unite and bring together spiritually inclined Indians and non-Indians who share the motivation to benefit others. Remember that the Buddha chose to do the most important thing in his life under this tree. (Siddhartha's intention in India)

Over the course of some 2 years, the Buddha's realization and teachings spread across the world and were integrated into cultures and civilizations across millennia. The knowledge revealed by the Buddha through his teachings has become an invaluable gift to humanity.

The festival will feature many special guests, including: renowned Japanese monk, musician and composer Kanho Yakushiji of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism; Parvathy Baul, practitioner, interpreter and teacher of the Baul tradition from Bengal, India; Dr Prachi Jariwala, trained Indian classical dancer; and Lucid Mantra, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in the northeast Himalayas.

“The festival evokes a gentle awakening, planting a seed of Indian wisdom in our minds. A small push to realize how invaluable the profound understanding of the Buddha is in our modern lives. This land has a heritage of wisdom and we are its heirs. » declared Siddhartha's intention in India. “We offer our sincerest gratitude to our Guru, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, for holding our hands to once again manifest the festival of Siddhartha. » (Siddhartha's intention in India)

Born in Bhutan in 1961, Dzongsar Khyentsé Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche (1910-1991). He is recognized as the third incarnation of the Tibetan religion of the XNUMXth century. terton Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892), founder of the Khyentse lineage, and immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893-1959).

In addition to Siddhartha's intention, Rinpoche's projects include: the Khyentse Foundation, established in 2001 to promote the teaching of the Buddha and support all traditions of Buddhist study and practice; 84000, a global non-profit initiative to translate the words of the Buddha and make them accessible to all; Lotus Outreach, which leads a range of projects aimed at ensuring the education, health and safety of vulnerable women and children in developing countries; and Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.

Rinpoche is the author of several books, including: What makes you not a Buddhist? (2006) Not for happiness (2012) The guru drinks bourbon? (2016) and Poison is Medicine: Clarifying the Vajrayana (2021), and has gained fame within and outside the global Buddhist community for the feature films he has written and directed: The mug (1999) Travelers and magicians (2004) Vara: a blessing (2012) Hema Hema: Sing me a song while I wait (2016) and Looking for a lady with fangs and a mustache (2019)