The Gyalwang Drukpa

It has really been quite a while since I last wrote something here. As you must know by now, there was a lot of work for all of us, preparing for the First ADC. I really want to thank all of those colleagues of mine who took all the trouble to come and join us and all the volunteers from different places, not only joining with their energy and effort, but also helping with fundraising and doing all sorts of things to ensure the success of the First ADC. I simply cannot highlight any of the monastic groups, volunteer groups or lay communities from different parts of Himalayas and say one is doing more or better than others, because I know and I can tell that everyone is trying their best.

There is one old friend I really want to thank though, I want to tell Master Hsin Tao that from the depth of my heart, I appreciate his presence at the First ADC, giving me tremendous moral support. Despite his extremely busy schedule, he managed to come and join us for at least a week, even though he is technically or directly not belonging to our lineage, but rather indirectly through his relationship with my father. I also want to thank Richard Koay, a genuine practitioner of love and wisdom, who also took time out to give a wonderful presentation to me and my centre heads. I look forward to further of such sharing and open dialogues.

The presence of the representatives from the Monastic Body of Bhutan, led by the most venerable Yangbi Lobpon also enhanced the entire spiritual appearance with the Chakrasamvara Drubpa held in most serene and respected way. I  also want to express my gratitude towards Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche who gave enormous support and practical suggestions, even though he had to leave early due to his teaching schedule in Europe, his loving support for me and the lineage is also treasured and held close to my heart.

Drukpa Vietnam's skills of decoration made us all so proud of having the First ADC on Druk Amitabha Mountain, over a short time of a few days, they transformed the entire mountain into a gigantic mandala. The beautiful voice of Stakmo Dorje and his group moved everyone to tears. The marvellous structure of the Naro Assembly Hall, contributed by Zangmo, her sons and her friends, and also my student Alice from Hong Kong, was really the centre piece for us. My personal doctor, Dr Dolkar, who has been taking care of me for more than 20 years and my students, Dr Thiery, his wife Dr Cecile and Dr Odette, took care of 8,000 patients during the 8 days of ADC, which is quite amazing, isn't it? There are so many good and positive things we will be able to share among all of us from now onwards. I am full of joy and appreciation just thinking about all these things.

Actually, there are so many people and groups whom I want to thank, because of all of your love for the lineage and for the masters, the First ADC has become a reality and a dream coming true. Thank you all for fulfilling my wishes.

The only thing I am asking for all the masters who are in charge of their respective groups is to act fairly and to make sure that any special requests they have they should make to the Organising Committee and not to me. Anyone who is coming to join the future ADC is really expected to respect the rules and regulations, as a respect not only to the Organising Committee or Chairperson, but also to your own self-discipline. I sometimes felt awkward when different country heads still came to me for approvals on matters regarding ADC, when there was already an organising committee led by our very capable chairperson, Kyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh.

At the same time also I wish that in the next and future ADCs, the chairperson, the resident masters, the country heads and the department leaders will try their best to practise impartiality and work in a more united way. I would be so happy to see the volunteers from the east and the west working closer the next time, as this is an international event with people from 67 countries coming together, all should be coming with one focus and one direction. Anyway, this is the First ADC, we will definitely have many opportunities to improve, gradually, as we progress year by year. I have just seen the draft of the edited ADC videos, I hope that this set of videos or DVD will be available soon within the next one or two weeks with subtitles.

Everyone present at the First ADC meeting for the Drukpa masters was very kind to let me decide who will be the next ADC Chairperson and the theme for the next ADC. I have not decided on the chairperson yet, but for the theme, I think since we have so many people coming from different backgrounds and different cultures, it is time for us to learn to respect and appreciate the fact that we are each different in our different ways. "Respect and Appreciate with Love and Understanding" will be the theme for our next ADC, to be taking place at the same time, next year, on Druk Amitabha Mountain.

Many people have requested me to show the same relics again. But I do not feel appropriate to show these holy relics again, because there are so many relics to be shown in our lineage and showing too many at one go reduces their preciousness. You just have to try to come and join us to view the relics. A different group of relics from our precious forefathers will be shown next year, they are equally sacred and grant the blessing of sight liberation as the ones that were shown a few days ago.

The First ADC was also special, where we had 4 enthronements, including one of a female tulku, Chozang Lhamo, whom I have recognised more than 10 years ago. She had just come out from a 7 year retreat and she was educated and trained by one of our greatest living masters, Kyabje Gyaltshen Tulku Rinpoche, therefore without even checking her myself, I have full trust that she is one of the greatest female tulkus for us. So it was very nice that I was able to perform the enthronement rituals for her and Kyabgon Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche, reincarnation of Gyalwa Lorepa and a Tulku from Chemdrey Gompa in Ladakh.

For those of my colleagues who were unable to join us, many were trying their best to come, even at the very last minute, but due to some sensitive technical issues, their visas were refused, which I still don't understand; but I am positive and confident that they will be able to come next year and every year to join us. Anyway, I have to emphasise many times ADC is a gathering for us to exchange spiritual knowledge, nothing more than that.

Anyway, you can read about the daily news on the First ADC website, the news team has done a great job with the help of the audio team to make sure that the news and webcast are updated. I am sure next year we will see a lot more improvement, with the Naro Assembly Hall fully completed and with the monument enshrined with two giant holy statues, which you will have to come to see them for yourself.

I don't think I need to copy and paste the photos from ADC website and put them here. You can easily find the beautiful photos taken by Jetsun and Cindy, our official photographers for ADC on the official website.