地點：印度　菩提迦耶　金剛座／德格寺
時間：2006年12月27日
報導：噶瑪耶喜措嘉
攝影：Karma Norbu

12月27日，第二十四屆噶舉祈願大法會正式展開序幕，計有超過四千五百位僧眾、二千位來自世界各地弟子信眾及二千位來自喜馬來雅山區的藏民前來參加此次的祈願法會。傳承上師如尊貴的　蔣貢仁波切、明就仁波切、天噶仁波切、創古仁波切、堪布竹清嘉措仁波切、竹奔德千仁波切及眾多祖古等亦前來參與此次盛會。

清晨五點半，五百位具戒比丘、比丘尼攝持心念手持水晶蓮花禪定水，以莊嚴步伐循序進入法會壇城，早上六點，開始一日的還淨布薩及受持菩提心戒，緊接著是祈願法會第一座香的經文誦唸。

第二座香，法王噶瑪巴教授《密勒日巴尊者傳》，現場以FM調頻做中、英、韓、俄語同步翻譯。

下午第三、四座香，僧眾們繼續大祈願文的誦唸。中文版的《大祈願文唸誦彙編集》也在法王噶瑪巴的親自指導下完成問世。期能為來自世界各地的華人弟子們帶來方便，法王希望前來參加的信眾弟子也都能隨文入觀與法會現場的僧眾們一同誦唸經文，而不是以看熱鬧的心態來參加法會。如同法王在《大祈願文唸誦彙編集》的序言中所說的：「我祝願，在祈願法會的時候，唸誦者們意所生、口所出的每字每句，都成為金色的形體，字字充滿遍佈於世界的所有空間，清洗寂滅污煙、哀嚎與戰聲，讓慈悲的字句與眾生的善心結合，如同日月、星辰般照耀，以溫暖慈悲與清涼智慧的萬丈光芒，照射至每一位眾生，滌淨自身沉睡已久的無明與貪欲瞋恚的黑暗。」

晚上七點，法王噶瑪巴給予國外弟子信眾『禪修指導』的教授。約有一千七百多位來自各國的信眾來到明就仁波切新落成的德格寺，聚精會神地聆聽法王的講說。對噶舉祈願法會的歷史及舉辦祈願法會之目的與利眾之事業法王也向現場大眾說明。整個法會是代表著我們向世界的關懷，是對全人類各個人種的關懷，也代表著對一切有情眾生及對全世界環境的關懷，然而這不僅僅是我們心中所想的希望而已，更重要的是透過這個法會，將我們心中的希望開顯展現出來，期能將此種關懷帶到社會，將每一個人心中的關愛力量牽引出來，這才是祈願法會最主要的目的。

The 24th annual Kagyu Monlam commenced on the 27th of December. Over 4,500 ordained monks and nuns had registered by the commencement, as well as 2,000 foreign pilgrims and at least another 2,000 Himalayan pilgrims. The Monlam began at 5:30 A.M. with an amazing procession of 500 monks (Gelongs), each carrying crystal lotus mandalas and meditating as they walked slowly around the outer courtyard of the Maha Bodhi temple and took their seats.

His Holiness Karmapa arrived and invited all who wished to renew their Sojung vows to do so. Once this was completed, His Holiness began teachings on the life of Milarepa The teachings were bestowed with profound clarity and devotion. Next all enjoyed hearing His Holiness and the thousands of devoted sangha singing Milarepa’s “Song of Aspiration”. Dedication prayers followed and the program at the Great Stupa, as the first day of the program concluded.

The next venue was held at the beautiful newly founded Tergar Monastery. After dinner period His Holiness gave teachings on how to meditate. Many eyes and minds were opened.

Following the ceremony, reports began circulating about a climatic phenomenon that many had witnessed after the Gelong procession as attendees were being seated. Lama Chodrak called the phenomenon a “Rain of Nectar”: “In an area about 75 feet in diameter and about 100 feet in front of Karmapa’s throne, shortly after the sunrise, people began to feel wetness. It was not the wetness of a typical ‘falling’ rain. This ‘rain’ just appeared at about ten feet from the ground and then fell to the ground. The drops were of unusual shape and of a very low intensity. Adding even more wonder, the sky was blue. Yes, a rain of nectar fell from a cloudless blue sky, and a blue sky is somewhat rare in Bodh Gaya! The temperature stayed comfortably warm well into the night too.'”