The Sheep Year Lapchi Pilgrimage
In this auspicious year of the Sheep, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang led two hundred pilgrims from all over the world up to the sacred Lapchi-Gang valley, high in the Himalayas, near the traditional border Tibetan border (4000m-5000m). His Holiness was received by H.E. Thritsab Rinpoche, most Ven. Nupa Rinpoche, most Ven. Drupon Dundup Palden, Tulkus and disciples from overseas.
His Holiness and close entourage went up by helicopter from Kathmandu, whilst many of the pilgrims, monks, nuns and lay people, took buses from Rinchenling Monastery to Lamabagar and then trekked for two or three days up and down the beautiful, strenuous mountain trails, along slippery bamboo galleries perched high above rushing mountain torrents and precipitous passes. Our kind guides told us that not long ago, before the new road was built, it used to take them at least seven days on foot from Rinchenling.
The snow was still quite heavy at the end of March and so the main Bhumtsok Chenpo, the "One Hundred Thousand Mantra Recitation" in celebration of Jetsun Milarepa and Chakrasamvara, was held for five days at Nyen-Yön (Nepalese: Godawari), in a narrow forested gorge just below the entrance to the Lapchi Valley. We all slept in tents in the woods, and there was a generous kitchen installed on the other side of the river.
The main sacred site at Nyen-Yön is a large shallow cave that has emerged on the side of the cliff, marvellously taking the form of the left ear, or "nyen-yön" of Chakrasamvara. At the same time it is a celebration of Tibet's great singing yogin, Milarepa, for he is usually portrayed holding his left hand to his left ear while singing his inspirational Vajra Songs. Indeed, Lapchi is the sacred mountain of both the deity and the yogin's "Speech" aspect, whereas Kailash is their "Body" aspect, and Tsari is their "Mind" aspect. At Nyen-Yön, there is a small hermitage where His Holiness had previously spent several months in retreat, and during the Bhumtsok his throne was placed right inside the ear, whilst all the disciples gathered around.
His Holiness shared brief life story of most Ven. Nupa Rinpoche and thank Rinpoche for making this program possible for the pilgrimage. His Holiness also thanked most Ven. Drupon Dundup Palden for leading the retreatants in Lapchi for a long time and benefiting for many beings.
