First North American Kagyu Monlam

As most readers already know, the First North American Kagyu Monlam is currently underway in New York. 

Bloggers in attendance are reporting that on Chokhor Duchen, Thrangu Rinpoche bestowed the Akshobya empowerment to a crowd of approximately 700 people and one special guest.

Here, from the Kagyu Monlam's official blog:

"At the conclusion of the empowerment, Rinpoche sat patiently at the front of the stage in a chair, blessing each person with the vase of water consecrated with the mandala of Akshobya. One of the more interesting participants waiting in the line was a large white rabbit, carried by a loving friend in a small cardboard box. As the woman brought her rabbit to Rinpoche for blessing, he smiled, touched the vase right between the rabbit's ears, and trickled blessed saffron water on its head!"

Rabbits are well appreciated in the Kagyu tradition. The 13th Karmapa was particularly fond of rabbits, and you often see one depicted in paintings of him. Why this is so, is a study unto itself.

Here at Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar, we extend profound respect and best wishes to Thrangu Rinpoche, to all attendees at the First North American Kagyu Monlam, and to the peerless Wisdom Dakini who assisted the bodhisattva in rabbit form.

Things are not as they seem, nor are they otherwise.