Report on the Khyentse Foundation Board of Directors’ Meeting
Bodhgaya, October, 2012

By Cangioli Che, KF Executive Director

Listen to Rinpoche’s welcome address to the KF community in Bodhgaya.

About 2,600 years ago, Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in what is now Bodhgaya, India. On October 25, 2012, Rinpoche opened the eleventh annual meeting of the board of directors of Khyentse Foundation in the main hall of Shechen Monastery, just a stone’s throw from the Mahabodhi temple that marks the spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

It was most auspicious for the Khyentse Foundation board and advisors to gather around Rinpoche in the holy site of Bodhgaya, in front of statues of the Buddha and HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Shechen Monastery, to reflect on the past decade of work on Buddhist patronage, and to envision and plan for its next 10 years. The direction of Khyentse Foundation always follows Rinpoche’s guiding light in our effort to translate his big vision into actions and programs.

For the first time in our history, we opened part of the board meeting to enable about 150 KF team members and supporters to gain a deeper understanding of the Foundation’s activities. Team members presented activity reports outlining KF’s multilevel support in countries such as India, Cambodia, and Bhutan; our long-term commitment to continue the legacy of Gene Smith in preserving Buddhist texts; our academia initiatives, scholarships, monastic support, and translating the words of the Buddha, and so much more.

After the KF and 84000 meetings, Sakya Dungse Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche and Rinpoche presided over 10 days of veneration and offerings to the Sixteen Arhats and aspiration prayers at the Mahabodhi temple. The ceremonies were attended by more than 500 monks from the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute (DKCLI) in Chauntra, India and hundreds of students from all over the world. The monlam (prayer festival) was generously sponsored by Xing Xuan of Choskyi Jungne Buddhist Center in Taiwan, which was established by the late Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk, the long-time abbot and principal of DKCLI.

In addition, Rinpoche conducted a three- day Mahakala puja near the Mahakala caves (an hour’s drive from the Mahabodhi temple), thanking the protectors for their support of Khyentse Foundation over the past 10 years and supplicating their continued blessings and protection in the future.

Through the generous support of KF sponsors and participants, Khyentse Foundation offered 200,000 butter lamps and 100,000 flower offerings during the 4 days of meetings and the 10 days of the monlam. We also offered robes and made offerings to the monks and nuns at the Mahakala puja.

View a slideshow of the meetings.