ADC Committee Meeting, January 2009

A brief report by Drukpa Publications

SH Gyalwang Drukpa On 26th and 27th January 2009, 29 key working and organizing committee members of the First ADC gathered on Druk Amitabha Mountain to discuss and finalize the programs and other matters pertaining to the first-ever organized discussion and spiritual gathering of masters and followers of the Drukpa Lineage. Among them were members from as far as America, Mexico, France, United Kingdom, La Palma island and Australia, several from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and four from Bhutan.

Programs and responsibilities were reorganized and finalized, changes are reflected in the Registration, Programs and the Committee sections.

ADC Committee Meeting The key changes in the programs are:

The Chakrasamvara Drubpa will start on 5th April and end on 8th April. It is highly recommended that participants arrive at Druk Amitabha Mountain on 8th April at 3:00am to join with the conclusion ceremony of the Drubpa. Joining of the Drubpa from 5th to 7th April also require formal registration, however sponsorship and donation are voluntary, participants on these three days will not be charged any registration fee. It is recommended that participants inform the various registration centers where they submit their registration their wishes to attend and the number of days of Drubpa that they will be participating.
On 8th April, there will be inauguration ceremonies for the Druk Pema Karpo Clinic and the Assembly Hall in the morning before the Opening Forum and Prayers for the Drukpa Lineage. The evening teaching by Kyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche (Live to Love, Transforming Anger into Loving Kindness) will be moved to 9th April afternoon session.
On 10th April, there will be the grand enthronement of Kyabje Drukpa Yongdzin Rinpoche and Lore Tulku, together with Long Life Initiation by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa and the display of the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa Kunkhyen Pema Karpo's heart relic in the form of the magnificent Rangjung Demchok Khorlo (Self-Arising Chakrasamvara).
Food will be distributed and served by monks and nuns. There will be guided prayers and disciplinary practices during breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Traditional cultural performances by Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) from Bhutan and devotees from Ladakh, Lahaul, Kinnaur and Nepal. In this way, through the cultural performances by the devotees of the Drukpa Lineage in the Himalayan region, as well as the devotees from different countries, this will foster understanding and appreciation of different cultures and traditions of people of our common world.
Drukpa Los Angeles has been added as an additional registration center to cater for the needs of individual registrants from the United States and Latin America.
For those wishing to request for concession rate, kindly contact the respective registration centers for more information about eligibility.

The new arrangement of the programs can be found in the Programs section.

The presence of Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck, coordinator of ADC, and three other working committee members, Sonam Lhaki, Kuenga Lhundrub and Tashi from Bhutan, were helpful. It was very inspiring for the other members to learn about the media activities and registration work being done there. Everyone contributed with his/her ideas of improving the organization and the preparation of the First ADC. At least, it was a great opportunity for all the country heads and representatives to share their expertise and their knowledge.

One of the "mundane" attractions of the First ADC is the availability of different kinds of food, mainly Bhutanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and local food. When this option was confirmed, it sort of brought a lot of smiles to those attending the meeting.

Lama Sonam, His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa's representative in Taiwan, also brought us a piece of exciting news. The various Drukpa Centers in Taiwan will jointly offer the merticulously calligraphed Lion Dance at the First ADC. The same group was performing Lion Dance during the opening of Drukpa Chia Yi in Taiwan and His Holiness enjoyed tremendously. The history of Lion Dance dates to the early Chin and Han dynasties in the 3rd century B.C.E. Those performing the Lion Dance are normally well-trained in kung-fu to make quick movements and difficult stunts.

There were also suggestions that international Drukpa Sangha should prepare performances which best reflect their cultures. The First ADC will have a lot to offer. Besides getting glimpses of the tricks or methods to gain enlightenment, or rather a more savvy way to call enlightenment - Happy Freedom, we also get some entertaining breaks.

The nuns at Druk Amitabha Mountain has also done a lot surveying the needs of the local villagers. They have visitied 167 households or 659 villagers living in the 10km radius of Druk Amitabha Mountain for the Live to Love activities sponsored by the First ADC. School bags for children, blankets and rice for villagers will be given away to these villagers. The total cost will come to around US$8,000.

Besides the above, there are many other technical issues that will now be handled by volunteers with professional backgrounds. It would be important that the First ADC sets a standard that will be followed, modified and improved on by the future organizers. As His Holiness puts it, "The First ADC will set a milestone for the Drukpa Lineage masters and followers." And, the Organizing and Working Committee Members are committed to making the First ADC a success, both in the mundane and the spiritual sense.

Last but not least, from the bottom of all our hearts, we would like to thank Jigme Zangmo and her sons as well as the contractor for doing a fantastic and great job, completing the "pillarless" Assembly Hall for the First ADC and the subsequent activities on Druk Amitabha Mountain. We also appreciate the amount of work Zangmo has put into the Coffee Shop which is now a popular place to "hang out" on Druk Amitabha Mountain. Thank you, Zangmo and the boys, see you at the First ADC!

To see what His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, Kyabje Khamtrul Rinpoche and Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck say about the First ADC right after the Committee Meeting in Kathmandu, please visit the following links:

His Holiness also explained in great detail about the importance of ADC in his recent teaching tour in Plouray, and the 5 video clips can be watched here.

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