The Tibet Post

Bodhgaya: At the end of this four day-long traditional prayer ceremony, which began on the 24th of last month, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) presented a drama about Jetsun Milarepa, one of Tibet's most famous yogis and poets, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The drama was based on the seven chapter-long biography of Milarepa, written by His Eminence the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.

Around 30,000 people, including Tibetan monks, nuns, lay people and foreigners, have gathered in Bhodgaya, India to hear His Holiness the Dalia Lama’s annual five days of teachings, and take part in the 27th Kagyu Monlam Chenmo, a prayer ceremony dating back hundreds of years.

This performance was meant to welcome the 2010 Gregorian New Year at the sacred Buddhist site of Bodhgaya, where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment, and to inspire people with Milarepa’s faithful devotion, boundless religious zeal, monumental forbearance, superhuman perseverance and ultimate attainment.

It is said that anyone who hears the name of Milarepa even once attracts an instant blessing, and will not take rebirth in a lower state of existence during seven consecutive lifetimes.  

At the end of the performance, His Eminence the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa presented traditional Tibetan white scarves to the performers from Tibetan Insitute of Performance Arts (TIPA).