Visit to Lumbini for Vesak

On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, Buddha Shakyamuni’s birthday, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche along with monks and nuns from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery and Nagi gompa, and students, alumni and staff from RYI attended celebrations with the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India in Lumbini where Buddha was born. The Prime Ministers expressed their commitment to supporting Buddhism and agreed to collaborate on promoting pilgrimages and visitors, including making the Nepali and Indian cities of Lumbini and Kushinagar sister cities.

Rinpoche kindly gave teachings and refuge to the RYI participants on the following day, and then took them to visit the Maya Devi temple, the place Buddha was born. The RYI participants came from Nepal, Bhutan, India, US, Europe, Austria, Denmark, China, Russia, and Thailand. In spite of the high summer temperatures, the visitors enjoyed the temple and its gardens and got to sit with Rinpoche in meditation, in the shade of the many trees.