The Gyalwang Drukpa

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.